Literary Criticism

Literary Criticism

A genre of writing where an author critiques a literary text, either a work of fiction, a play, or poetry.

Close Reading

A careful and detailed analysis of a literary work, focusing on its structure, meaning, and significance.

New Criticism

A formalist approach that evaluates a text based solely on its content, without considering outside factors like the author’s biography.

Reader-Response Criticism

A theory that interprets literature through the reader's personal interaction with the text, suggesting that meaning is generated by the reader.

Feminist Criticism

Literary criticism that examines how texts reflect or challenge gender roles and gender dynamics.

New Historicism

A critical approach that signifies understanding texts in relation to the historical context in which they were written.

Psychoanalytical Criticism

An approach that focuses on the psychological dimensions of literary works, including the thoughts and motivations of characters.

Marxist Criticism

A literary theory that analyzes literature in the context of class relations and social conflict.

Archetypal Criticism

A form of literary analysis that identifies recurring symbols, themes, and archetypes in literature.

Postcolonial Criticism

A critical approach that explores the representation and misrepresentation of third-world cultures in literature.

Structuralism/Semiotics

A theory that sees literature as a system of signs where meaning is constructed in context.

Post-Structuralism/Deconstruction

A critical approach that argues literature has no inherent meaning and that interpretations are subjective.

Protagonist

The main character in a story, often facing challenges and driving the narrative forward.

Antagonist

The character or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict in the story.

Symbol

A figure of speech where a word/object represents a larger concept or idea.

Point of View

The perspective from which a story is narrated, including first-person, third-person, and omniscient viewpoints.

Plot

The sequence of events that make up a story, typically involving a conflict and resolution.

Thesis Statement

The central argument or claim made in a literary critique that guides the analysis.

Formalism

An approach to literary criticism that emphasizes the form and structure of a literary work over its content.

Critique

A detailed analysis and assessment of a text, often involving argumentation about its themes and effectiveness.

Media Criticism

Analysis focusing on how different media and formats affect the interpretation and reception of texts.

Critical Theory

The study of theoretical frameworks that scholars use to analyze literature, including varying perspectives and approaches.