Critique

Table of contents
I IV
Introduction
• Definition of critique
• Purpose of the presentation
• Brief overview of the work
being critiqued
III IV
Setting Characterization Conflict and Plot
• Description of the physical and cultural • Description of the main characters in the • Identification of the story's main
environment in which the story takes story conflict
place • Analysis of their motivations, • Overview of the plot and its key
• Relevance of the setting to the story's personality traits, and development over
events
themes and conflict the course of the story
• Analysis of the story's pacing,
• Analysis of the author's use of setting to• Discussion of the author's use of
create mood and atmosphere characterization to convey the story's structure, and resolution

VII
themes and conflicts

V VI
Theme
• Identification of the story's main themes
• Discussion of how the themes are
developed and conveyed throughout the
story
• Analysis of the story's meaning and
relevance to the reader
Style Conclusion
• Analysis of the author's writing style, including • Summary of the key points of the critique
their use of language, imagery, symbolism, and • Overall evaluation of the work being
other literary techniques
critiqued
• Discussion of how the author's style contributes to
• Final thoughts and recommendations
the story's themes and meaning
• Evaluation of the author's overall effectiveness in
conveying their message
 “Critique is the necessary groundwork for all
knowledge, whether it is knowledge of the world
or of oneself.”

—Immanuel Kant
Introduction
Introduction

● A critique is an in-depth evaluation of a story, novel,

film, or other reading/viewing materials for the
purpose of giving the public insight into the text.

● It does not mean that the write-up merely points

out the faults or flaws in a story or film.
 Introduction

● It shed light on the content of a “text” [the

story, novel, song, movie] to help future
readers or viewers understand better the
material that they are reading or viewing.

● Critical essays help us make sense of what we

just read or viewed.
Setting
Setting
● The setting of a critique is the context in which the work being
analyzed was created. This includes the historical and cultural
background, as well as the circumstances and conditions under
which the work was produced. Understanding the setting is essential
to gaining a full understanding of the work being critiqued.
● How well was the setting developed?
Does it appeal to more than one of the senses?
Does it inform or connect to other aspects of the story such as
character development and narrative style?
Characterization
 Characterization
• How well-drawn are the characters in the story? Do we know
enough about them [life, attitudes, some type of history, etc] to
make them interesting and relatable? Are there unecessary
characters?

• Characterization is the process of creating and developing

characters in a work of art or literature. In a critique, it involves
analyzing how well the characters are developed and how they
contribute to the overall meaning of the work. A good critique
will examine how the characters are portrayed and how they
interact with each other and the world around them.
Conflict and plot
 Conflict Plot
Conflict refers to the tension or Plot refers to the sequence of
struggle between opposing events that make up the story.
forces within a work.
 Conflict and Plot
● Conflict and plot are two important elements of any work of literature or
art. In a critique, it is important to examine how well the conflict and plot
are developed, and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the work.

● Is there conflict in the story? Is the plot interesting, original, and well-
developed? Are there unnecessary and confusing subplots?
Theme
 Theme
• How well does the story speak to the readers? Does it raise
questions about life, or provide profound insights?

• The theme is the central message or idea that the work is trying to
convey. It is often expressed through the characters, conflict, and
plot. A good critique will analyze how well the theme is developed
and how effectively it is communicated to the reader or viewer.
Style
Style
● How distinctive or unique is the writing style? Are there literary devices or
techniques used? Is it purposeful? Does the style remind you of any other
authors you have read?

● It refers to the way in which the work is written or presented. This includes
elements such as tone, language, and structure. In a critique, it is important
to examine how well the style of the work contributes to its overall meaning
and effectiveness.
 Conclusion
In conclusion, a critique is a detailed analysis and assessment of a
work of art or literature. To effectively critique a work, it is important
to consider its setting, characterization, conflict , plot, theme, and
style. By analyzing these elements, we can gain a deeper
understanding of the work and its meaning, and provide valuable
insights and feedback to the creator.
 Battleship (2012) Critique
Introduction - Battleship (2012) is a science fiction action movie
directed by Peter Berg, loosely based on the classic board game of
the same name. The movie opens with an introduction to the main
character, Alex Hopper (Taylor Kitsch), a reckless and irresponsible
naval officer who is forced to join the navy by his brother, Stone
(Alexander Skarsgård). The introduction also sets up the relationship
between Alex and Samantha (Brooklyn Decker), a physical therapist
and the daughter of Admiral Shane (Liam Neeson), who disapproves
of Alex's behavior.
Setting - The movie takes place in modern times, with the primary
setting being the Pacific Ocean. The USS John Paul Jones, a naval
destroyer, is on a routine exercise when they encounter an alien force
that has come to Earth with hostile intentions. The setting of the movie
is well-crafted, and the special effects used to bring the alien ships to
life are impressive.
Characterization - The characters in Battleship are not particularly
well-developed, with most of them conforming to standard action
movie tropes. Alex Hopper is the cocky, impulsive hero who must learn
to become a leader, while his brother Stone is the responsible and
dependable older brother who serves as his mentor. Samantha is the
love interest who provides emotional support for Alex, and Admiral
Shane is the tough but wise commanding officer who must make
difficult decisions. The alien characters are also one-dimensional and
lack any real personality.
Conflict and Plot - The main conflict of the movie is between the
humans and the alien invaders. The aliens have come to Earth to take
over the planet, and the humans must use their military technology to
fight back. The plot is predictable and formulaic, with the humans
facing a series of obstacles and setbacks before ultimately emerging
victorious. The pacing of the movie is uneven, with the action scenes
being well-executed but the dialogue-heavy scenes dragging on.
Theme - The theme of Battleship is the importance of teamwork and
leadership in times of crisis. Alex Hopper starts off as a selfish and
reckless individual but learns to become a responsible leader through
the course of the movie. The movie also touches on themes of
sacrifice and the importance of family.
Style - Battleship is a flashy and bombastic action movie, with plenty
of explosions and special effects. The movie also incorporates
elements of the original board game, such as the use of grid
coordinates and the classic line "You sunk my battleship!" The
soundtrack is composed of modern pop and rock songs, which adds to
the movie's high-energy feel.
In conclusion, while Battleship has some impressive special effects
and action sequences, it ultimately falls short in terms of character
development and originality. The movie follows a familiar formula and
does not offer anything particularly new or thought-provoking.
However, if you're looking for a mindless action flick with plenty of
explosions, Battleship might be worth a watch.
Thank You
For listening