Title: Literary Criticism
1Literary Criticism
- Reader Response Criticism
2Historical Context
- Louise Rosenblatt's influential 1938 work
Literature As Exploration - reaction to the formalist theories of the New
Critics, who promoted "close readings" of
literature - Initially-gtRRbad because it relied too much on
personal interpretation
3Definition
- A form of criticism that stresses the importance
of the reader's role in interpreting texts.
Rejecting the idea that there is a single, fixed
meaning inherent in every literary work, this
theory holds that the individual creates his or
her own meaning through a "transaction" with the
text based on personal associations. Makes a text
and opinion objective and unique
4Key terms
- Horizons of expectations-readers expectations
of literature - Implied reader-like target audience
- Interpretive communities-readers within a
certain community share values, reading
strategies etc - Transactional analysis-how does reader interpret
text and how text produces a response (think
diction/imagery)
5Objections (weaknesses)
- Too subjective
- Fails to account for a text being able to expand
a readers understanding
6To sum up
- The Correct Reading was traditionally the goal
of literary criticism. - Reader response criticism is a reaction to this.
How one interprets a text is subjective and is
based on time, place, culture, etc.
7Literary Criticism
8Historical Context
- Based on works of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell
(and myth itself) - Popular in 1950s and 60s due to Canadian,
Northrop Frye
9Definition
- Archetypal critics believe that literature is
based on recurring images, characters, narrative
designs and themes - Origins of western literature in Judeo-Christian
scripture and Greco-Roman mythology
10Whats an Archetype
- Arche first and typos form
- An original model or pattern from which copies
are made
11Fundamental plot archetype
- The Journey
- protagonist moves from innocence to experience
- Begins in familiar environment
- Descent into danger
- Battle monsters in underworld (task)
- Return home (reunion, marriage)
12Key Terms
- Anima
- Animus
- Collective Unconscious
- Persona
- Shadow
13Common Archetypal Figures
- The Child
- The Hero
- The Great Mother
- The Wise old man
- The Trickster or Fox
14Frye vs Jung
- Frye sees archetypes as recurring patterns in
literature in contrast, Jung views archetypes as
primal, ancient images/experience that we have
inherited.
15Objections
- Limits personal interpretation
- Only analyses one aspect of literature
(archetypes)
16In the fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel are loved by
their father but resented by their step-mother,
who insists on a journey into the woods with the
intent of losing them. In the woods, the children
meet evil in the guise of a witch who tries to
kill them. But they outwit her, kill her, and
return to their father. Their step-mother in some
versions dies mysteriously at the same time as
the witch. Familiar order is restored.
17In groups of 3-4, write a modern version of this
fairy tale. Make sure your modern tale does not
alter the original theme or message. Note how you
used the archetypes within this tale. Be prepared
to present to the rest of the class.