Formalism
-Piece of literature = complete within itself-Strictly interpret text itself-Traditional analyzing and criticism-No outside sources
Historical
-Certain time in history / personal life affects literature-Specialized with the past
Biographical
-Author’s life + impact on literature-Rooted in real life experience
Cultural
-Cultural artifacts + historical context-Author’s culture at the time affects literature
Marxist
-Literature is historical artifact driven by economics/class struggle-Fine arts = privileged class
Psychological
-Through author’s / characters’ psyche, mindset, and thoughts-Grasp of human motivation/senses-Sigmund Freud’s theories –> characters’ subconscious motivations, defenses, inner conflicts, behavior, symbolism
Mythological and Archetypal
-Characters represent legends/myths/etc.-Myths, religions, legends, literature from around the world and throughout history-Character usually challenged, gains wisdom/insight by the end of heroic journey
Gender Focus
-Overall mentality + author’s / characters’ genders-Gender roles, sexual identity, relationships, roles in society, etc.
Reader Response
-Immediate thoughts on literature-Critic approaches literature w/ their own experiences and points of view-Unique to each reader
Deconstruction
-Goes a step further than regular criticism-Words are incapable of accurately expressing meaning, so literature is unstable and vulnerable to being deconstructed-Look for the way that elements contradict each other and undermine coherence-Opposite of a formalist
