LITERARY CRITICISM

WHAT IS LITERARY CRITICISM?

Literary criticism is the practice of analyzing, interpreting,
and evaluating works of literature, such as novels, poems,
and plays. It involves examining the language, themes,
characters, settings, and other elements of a literary work to
gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and
significance.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF LITERARY THEORIES
FEMINIST CRITICISM : This theory explores the ways
in which gender roles and power dynamics are portrayed in
literature, as well as how the text may reflect or challenge
societal norms and expectations.
MARXIST CRITICISM: This theory examines how a text
reflects and critiques the social and economic systems of the
society in which it was created.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF LITERARY THEORIES
READER-RESPONSE CRITICISM : This theory
focuses on how individual readers interpret and respond to a
work of literature, as well as how the text may shape or be
shaped by its readers.
POSTCOLONIAL CRITICISM : This theory analyzes
how literature reflects the experiences of colonized peoples
and how it may challenge or reinforce colonial power
structures.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF LITERARY THEORIES
READER-RESPONSE CRITICISM : This theory
focuses on how individual readers interpret and respond to a
work of literature, as well as how the text may shape or be
shaped by its readers.
POSTCOLONIAL CRITICISM : This theory analyzes
how literature reflects the experiences of colonized peoples
and how it may challenge or reinforce colonial power
structures.
 READER RESPONSE CRITICISM
READER-RESPONSE CRITICISM is a type of
literary criticism that focuses on the ways in which readers
interpret and respond to a text. Rather than analysing the
author's intent or the text's objective meaning, reader-
response critics believe that a text's meaning is shaped by
the reader's individual experiences, beliefs, and values.
 GUIDE QUESTIONS IN READER
RESPONSE CRITICISM
How does the reader's background and experiences
influence their interpretation of the text?
What emotions does the text evoke in the reader, and how
do these emotions shape their understanding of the work?
How does the reader's understanding of the text change over
time, or upon multiple readings?
What aspects of the text do readers find most compelling,
and why?
 GUIDE QUESTIONS IN READER
RESPONSE CRITICISM
How do readers' personal beliefs and values shape their
understanding of the text's themes and messages?
How might readers from different cultural or historical
contexts interpret the text differently?
How does the reader's relationship with the text change over
the course of the work?
How do readers engage with the text beyond the printed
page, such as through adaptations or fanfiction?
 FEMINIST CRITICISM
FEMINIST LITERARY THEORY is a branch of literary
criticism that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, as part of the
broader feminist movement. The theory grew out of the
recognition that traditional literary criticism tended to
marginalize and ignore the voices and experiences of
women writers and characters.
 FEMINIST CRITICISM
Feminist critics have explored topics such as the
representation of women in literature, the ways in which
women's writing challenges and subverts traditional literary
forms, and the intersections of gender with other categories
of identity, such as race and sexuality.
 FEMINIST CRITICISM
Feminist critics have explored topics such as the
representation of women in literature, the ways in which
women's writing challenges and subverts traditional literary
forms, and the intersections of gender with other categories
of identity, such as race and sexuality.
 THINGS TO CONSIDER IN WRITING A
FEMINIS LITERARY CRITICISM
1. REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN : Feminist literary
criticism often begins by analyzing how women are
represented in a text, including their roles, behaviors, and
relationships with male characters. It is important to consider
how the text reinforces or challenges traditional gender roles
and stereotypes.
 THINGS TO CONSIDER IN WRITING A
FEMINIS LITERARY CRITICISM
2.INTERSECTIONALITY: Feminist literary criticism
recognizes that gender is just one aspect of identity, and that
other factors such as race, class, and sexuality can also
shape a person's experiences. When analyzing a text from a
feminist perspective, it is important to consider how these
other factors intersect with gender.
 THINGS TO CONSIDER IN WRITING A
FEMINIS LITERARY CRITICISM
3. FEMALE AUTHORSHIP : Feminist literary criticism
recognizes the importance of women's voices and
experiences in literature, and often focuses on the work of
women writers. It is important to consider how the author's
gender may have influenced their writing, and how their work
may challenge or subvert traditional literary forms.
 THINGS TO CONSIDER IN WRITING A
FEMINIS LITERARY CRITICISM
4.LANGUAGE AND IMAGERY: Feminist literary criticism pays
close attention to the language and imagery used in a text, as
these can reveal underlying assumptions and power
dynamics. It is important to consider how language and
imagery are used to reinforce or challenge gender roles and
stereotypes.
 THINGS TO CONSIDER IN WRITING A
FEMINIS LITERARY CRITICISM
5.HISTORICAL CONTEXT : Feminist literary criticism
recognizes that the meaning of a text can be shaped by the
historical context in which it was created. When analyzing a
text from a feminist perspective, it is important to consider the
social, political, and cultural factors that may have influenced
the author and their work.
 GUIDE QUESTIONS IN FEMINIST
LITERARY CRITICISM
How does the text portray gender roles and stereotypes?
Are these representations problematic or empowering? How
do they reflect or challenge the cultural norms and values of
the time period in which the text was written?
How does the text explore issues of power, oppression, and
privilege? Who has power and who is marginalized or
silenced? How does the text challenge or reinforce these
power dynamics?
 GUIDE QUESTIONS IN FEMINIST
LITERARY CRITICISM
How does the text depict sexuality and desire? Are these
representations consistent with or subversive to dominant
cultural attitudes towards sexuality? How do they reflect the
experiences and desires of women and other marginalized
groups?
How does the text address issues of race, ethnicity, and
class? How do these factors intersect with gender to shape the
experiences of the characters and the themes of the work?
 GUIDE QUESTIONS IN FEMINIST
LITERARY CRITICISM
How do language and narrative style contribute to the
representation of gender in the text? What linguistic and
literary devices are used to reinforce or challenge gender
stereotypes and power dynamics?
How does the text relate to the broader context of feminist
theory and activism? How does it contribute to or challenge
feminist debates and movements?