Literary Analysis and Critical Lens
What is literary criticism/analysis?
Literary criticism is a description, analysis, evaluation, or interpretation of a particular literary work in an attempt to expose the hidden meanings embedded in those texts.
What does a feminist lens examine?
The gender roles and power structures at play in the literature
What does an archetypal lens examine?
Which archetypes are present in a story and how they are represented.
What does a reader response lens examine?
The reader's reaction, response, and understanding of a text.
What is a critical lens?
Different perspectives through which the reader can “view” a text.
What does a Marxist lens examine?
The portrayals of social class and power structures within the text.
What are archetypes?
Story roles in mythic storytelling
What does a historical lens examine?
The historical context of a text and its relevance to understanding the story.
What is important to remember about literary criticism?
It all depends on perspective, so there isn’t a right or wrong answer.
What are some important questions to ask when looking at a text through Marxist lens?
How do the different class portrayals work to reproduce or maintain certain social beliefs and practices?
What are some important questions to ask when looking at a text through archetypal lens?
How is the hero similar to heroes from other stories? How is the villain? Sidekicks?
What does a historical lens view assume?
That readers should know the historical context (circumstances) of the time during which the author wrote the story or the time the story is set in.
A topic sentence
What are some important questions to ask when looking at a text through feminist lens?
Do the female characters play an active role in determining their fate? Or are they largely objects that require action from male characters?
Name 3 of the 12 common archetypes?
Innocent, orphan, hero, caregiver, explorer, rebel, lover, creator, jester, sage, magician, ruler
What does a reader response lens view assume?
That the reader is responsible for making meaning from a story, and downplays the author’s role in the process.
What are two more things that need to be included in a literary analysis paragraph?
Text evidence and commentary/explanation connecting the text evidence to the topic sentence.
Explain how either Rapunzel or Snow White (film or text) can be examined through either a Marxist or feminist lens.
Answers will vary
Explain how either Rapunzel or Snow White (film or text) can be examined through an archetypal lens.
Answers will vary.
What is one piece of historical context that may be important to know to fully understand Rapunzel or Snow White?
Answers will vary