Literary Criticism Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is the definition of literary criticism?
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature.
It is a genre of art criticism.
How is modern literary criticism influenced?
It is often influenced by literary theory, the philosophical analysis of literature’s goals and methods.
Literary theory provides frameworks for understanding literature.
What is Moralist Criticism?
A type of literary critique that judges literature based on moral lessons or ethical teachings.
It evaluates the moral implications of literary works.
What do Structuralist critics analyze?
They analyze universal, underlying structures in a text and its connection to other literary works.
This approach examines common underlying structures.
What is Formalism in literary criticism?
Formalisms analyze the genre, mode, form, and discourse while rejecting bibliographical, cultural, and social contexts.
It focuses on the text itself rather than external factors.
What does Marxist Criticism focus on?
It diagnoses political and social problems in terms of the struggles between different socio-economic classes.
This approach examines literature’s relationship with class issues.
What is the focus of Feminist Criticism?
It critiques widely accepted ideas about gender, sex, and other social identities like race and class.
This approach questions societal norms and power dynamics.
What does Historical Criticism examine?
It examines the context in which a work was written, including the author’s life and historical and social circumstances.
This approach provides insight into the influences on the text.
What is Reader Response Criticism?
It focuses on the individual reader’s experience and interpretation of a text.
This perspective values personal engagement with literature.
Why should students engage in literary criticism?
It helps students understand research, reading, and writing, form judgments about literature, study ideas from different viewpoints, and assess the value of literary works.
Engaging with literary criticism enhances critical thinking skills.
