Overview of Introduction to Literary Criticism

Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. It involves analyzing texts through various lenses to understand deeper meanings, themes, and the context in which a literary work was created.


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Purpose of Literary Criticism

To interpret and analyze literary works.

To understand the cultural, historical, and social context of a text.

To evaluate a work’s aesthetic and intellectual value.

To explore multiple perspectives on literature (e.g., psychological, political, structural).



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Major Types of Literary Criticism

1. Formalism / New Criticism

Focuses on the form, language, structure, and style of the text itself.

Ignores external factors like the author's biography or historical context.



2. Historical / Biographical Criticism

Analyzes literature based on the author’s life and the historical context in which it was written.



3. Marxist Criticism

Focuses on class struggle, economics, and power relations.

Analyzes literature as a reflection or critique of social and political systems.



4. Feminist Criticism

Examines the role of gender and patriarchy in literature.

Highlights how literature reflects or challenges traditional gender roles.



5. Psychoanalytic Criticism

Based on Freud’s theories, it analyzes characters' behavior and authors' intentions through psychology.

Looks at unconscious desires, fears, and motivations.



6. Postcolonial Criticism

Studies literature produced in or about colonized countries.

Explores themes of identity, resistance, and cultural hybridity.



7. Reader-Response Criticism

Emphasizes the reader's interpretation as central to understanding the text.

Suggests that meaning is not fixed but created in the interaction between text and reader.



8. Structuralism and Post-Structuralism

Structuralism: Analyzes underlying structures (like language and narrative).

Post-Structuralism: Challenges stable meanings; emphasizes ambiguity and multiplicity.



9. Deconstruction

Developed by Jacques Derrida; focuses on contradictions and complexities in texts.