Literary Criticism

1
Literary Criticism

• Reader Response Criticism

2
Historical 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

3
Definition

• 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

4
Key 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)

5
Objections (weaknesses)

• Too subjective
• Fails to account for a text being able to expand
  a readers understanding

6
To 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.

7
Literary Criticism

• Archetypal Criticism

8
Historical Context

• Based on works of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell
  (and myth itself)
• Popular in 1950s and 60s due to Canadian,
  Northrop Frye

9
Definition

• 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

10
Whats an Archetype

• Arche first and typos form
• An original model or pattern from which copies
  are made

11
Fundamental 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)

12
Key Terms

• Anima
• Animus
• Collective Unconscious
• Persona
• Shadow

13
Common Archetypal Figures

• The Child
• The Hero
• The Great Mother
• The Wise old man
• The Trickster or Fox

14
Frye vs Jung

• Frye sees archetypes as recurring patterns in
  literature in contrast, Jung views archetypes as
  primal, ancient images/experience that we have
  inherited.

15
Objections

• Limits personal interpretation
• Only analyses one aspect of literature
  (archetypes)

16
In 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.
17
In 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.