Literary Criticism Module

LITERARY CRITICISM
Literary criticism is the comparison, analysis, interpretation, and /or evaluation of works of literature.
Literary criticism is essentially an opinion, supported by evidence, relating to theme, style, setting or
historical or political context.
The purpose of a literary analysis:
This is accomplished by examining the literary devices, word choices, or writing structures the author
uses within the work. The purpose of a literary analysis is to demonstrate why the author used special
ideas, word choices, or writing structures to convey his or her message.
Components
Literary analysis involves examining all the parts of a novel, play, short story, or poem – elements such
as character, setting, tone, and imagery - and thinking about how the author uses those elements to
create certain effects.
HOW TO TILE YOUR LITERARY ANALYSIS – THE CLASSROOM.COM
Literary Criticism is the comparison, analysis, interpretation, and/ or evaluation of works of literature.
Literary criticism is essentially an opinion, supported by evidence, relating to theme, style, setting or
historical or political context. Literary criticism aims to analyses, interpret and evaluate the texts created
by humans at a particular moment in time and in a specific cultural ambience. Analysis and
interpretation are acts of intellectual and rationality.
Such analysis, maybe based on a variety of critical approaches or movements. e.g. archetypal criticism,
psychoanalytic criticism, Marxist Criticism, New Criticism (formalism/ structuralism), New Historicism,
post – structuralism, and reader response criticism.
Five Literary Theories

 What is Literary Theory?
 Traditional Literary Criticism
 Marxism and Critical Theory
 Structuralism and Poststructuralism
 New Historicism and cultural Materialism…
 Ethnic Studies and Postcolonial Criticism
 Gender studies and Queen Theory
Four Types of Criticism
Contents
 Aesthetic Criticism
 Logical Criticism
 Factual Criticism
 Positive Criticism
 Negative Criticism
 Constructive Criticism
 Destructive Criticism
 Practical Criticism
Four Major Critical Theories in Literature
Broad schools of theory that have historically been important include historical and biographical
criticism, New post – structuralism, Marxism, feminism, and structuralism, post colonialism, new
historicism, deconstruction, reader – response criticism.
After which, one may utilize any of the following literary approaches below: Formalist criticism,
Deconstructionist criticism. Historical criticism.
The literary purpose is used to entertain and to give aesthetic pleasure. The focus of the literary purpose
is on the words themselves and on a conscious and deliberate arrangement of the words to produce a
pleasing or enriching effect. A writer often expresses a world view when using the literary purpose.
This is accomplished by examining the literary devices, word choices, or writing structures the author
uses within the work. The purpose of a literary analysis is to demonstrate why the author used specific
ideas, word choices, or writing structures to convey his or her message.
An author’s purpose may be to amuse the reader, to persuade the reader the reader, to inform the
reader or to satirize a condition. An author writes with one of four general purposes in mind: 1. To relate
a story or to recount events, an author uses narrative writing.
Literary writing is defined as creating new creative work, such as poems or novels, and compilations or
volumes of creative work.
Composing a novel is an example of literary writing.

Researching, reading and writing works of literary criticism will help you to make better sense of the
work, form judgements about literature, study ideas from different points of view and determine on an
individual level whether a literary work is worth reading.
Literary criticism aims to analyze, interpret and evaluate the texts created by humans at a particular
moment in time and in a specific cultural intellect and rationality.
When students study literature, they learn to appreciate words and their power. They travel to other
realms and times through the texts they read. They understand about their own culture and others.
They learn to emphatise with characters, to feel their joys and pain.
Satire is a technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an
individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule. It intends to improve humanity by
criticizing its follies and foibles.
When you analyze a literary text, you will deal with basic elements of literature, like plot, theme,
character, point of view and setting.,Close study of those elements ill then lead to an essay focusing on
one aspect of the work.
What are the examples of literary works?
Examples of literary works:
 Fiction
 Non fiction
 Manuscripts
 Poetry
 Contributions to collective works
 Compilations of data or other literary subject matter
 Dissertations
 Theses
What are the steps to writing a literary essay ?
1. Step 1: Reading the text and identifying literary devices. The first step is to carefully read the
texts and take initial notes.
2. Step 2: Coming up with a thesis.
3. Step 3: Writing a title and introduction…
4. Step 4:Writing the body of the essay…
5. Step 5: Writing a conclusion
What is the structure of literary writing ?

The most common elements of the narrative structure are setting , plot, and theme. The parts of
narrative plot include exposition ( the beginning) rising action, climax,falling action and resolution. Th
resolution is also called the denoument.
Worksheets:
Name:_________________________________________________Course:_________________
I. Answer the following questions:

1. What is literary criticism ?
2. What are the ten types of literary Criticism ?
3. What are the Four Types of Criticism ?
4. What are the literary criticism approaches ?

5. What is the purpose of literary ?
6. What is the purpose of literary authors ?
7. What literary writing means ?
8. What is the main purpose of literary criticism ?

9. What is the importance of literary criticism ?
10. What can we learn from Literature ?
11. What is a common purpose of satire ?
12. What are the steps in writing literary essay ?
13. What are the examples of literary works ?

Literary Theory enables a broad appreciation of global literature. Reading a text through the lens, of
literary theory provides a new perspective to better understand literature, learn more about different
authors intentions and generally improve the quality of literature for both authors and readers.
It is literary theory that formulates the relationship between author and work; literary theory develops
the significance of race, class, and gender for literary study, both from the stand point of the biography
of the author and an analysis of their thematic presence texts.
Literary criticism is essentially an opinion , supported by evidence, relating to theme, style, setting on
historical or political context. It usually includes discussion of the works content and integrates your
ideas with other insights gained from research.
Make a specific, arguable point ( thesis ) about these attributes. Defend this point with resons and
evidence drawn from the text and secondary sources.
Find evidence that supposes your thesis. This evidence may include:
1. Opinions of other critics.

2. Discussion of the text’s historical and social context.
Five reasons to study English literature
 It teaches you to think critically about complex types from different perspectives…
 It broadens your horizon…
 It enables you to develop transferable skills.
 It provides exciting placement and travel opportunities.
 You’ll be learning with the best.
Worksheet:
Name:_______________________________________________Rating:__________________
Course:______________________________________________Date:____________________
I. Answer the following questions:

1. What are the benefits of studying English literature ?
2. What are the purpose of literary theories ?
3. What are the characteristics of literary criticism ?
4. How do you use literary criticism ?

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LITERARY CRITICISM

The purpose of a literary analysis:

HOW TO TILE YOUR LITERARY ANALYSIS – THE CLASSROOM.COM

Five Literary Theories

Four Major Critical Theories in Literature

Composing a novel is an example of literary writing.

What are the examples of literary works?

Examples of literary works:

What are the steps to writing a literary essay ?

What is the structure of literary writing ?

I. Answer the following questions:

2. What are the ten types of literary Criticism ?

3. What are the Four Types of Criticism ?

4. What are the literary criticism approaches ?

6. What is the purpose of literary authors ?

7. What literary writing means ?

8. What is the main purpose of literary criticism ?

10. What can we learn from Literature ?

11. What is a common purpose of satire ?

12. What are the steps in writing literary essay ?

13. What are the examples of literary works ?

1. Opinions of other critics.

Five reasons to study English literature

I. Answer the following questions:

2. What are the purpose of literary theories ?

3. What are the characteristics of literary criticism ?

4. How do you use literary criticism ?

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