Major Schools of Literary Criticism to Know for Intro to Literary Theory

Literary criticism offers various lenses to analyze texts, focusing on their form, meaning, and context. Understanding these major schools helps us appreciate how literature reflects and shapes human experiences, culture, and society in diverse ways.

1. Formalism

   • Focuses on the form and structure of a text, analyzing elements like language, style, and literary devices.
   • Emphasizes close reading, where the text is examined independently of historical or biographical context.
   • Rejects external factors, asserting that meaning is derived solely from the text itself.

2. New Criticism

   • Similar to Formalism, it prioritizes the text and its inherent meaning over authorial intent or reader response.
   • Advocates for the analysis of literary elements such as imagery, symbolism, and irony.
   • Introduces concepts like "the intentional fallacy" and "the affective fallacy," arguing against the relevance of authorial intention and emotional response.

3. Structuralism

   • Examines the underlying structures that govern language and narrative, influenced by linguistics and anthropology.
   • Analyzes how meaning is constructed through relationships and differences within a text.
   • Sees literature as part of a larger system of signs and cultural codes.

4. Post-structuralism

   • Challenges the idea of fixed meanings and stable structures, emphasizing the fluidity of language and interpretation.
   • Argues that texts can produce multiple meanings, influenced by context and reader interpretation.
   • Highlights the instability of language and the role of power dynamics in shaping meaning.

5. Deconstruction

   • A method of critical analysis that seeks to reveal the inherent contradictions and ambiguities in a text.
   • Questions binary oppositions (e.g., good/evil, male/female) and explores how they are constructed and deconstructed.
   • Emphasizes the idea that meaning is never fully present and is always deferred.

6. Reader-response criticism

   • Focuses on the reader's role in creating meaning, asserting that interpretation is subjective and varies from person to person.
   • Examines how individual experiences, emotions, and cultural backgrounds influence understanding of a text.
   • Highlights the interaction between the text and the reader as a dynamic process.

7. Psychoanalytic criticism

   • Applies concepts from psychology, particularly Freudian theory, to analyze characters, motivations, and themes.
   • Explores the unconscious desires and conflicts that shape human behavior and narrative structure.
   • Investigates how literature reflects psychological processes and societal norms.

8. Marxist criticism

   • Analyzes literature in the context of class struggle, economic power, and social inequality.
   • Examines how texts reflect, reinforce, or challenge dominant ideologies and class relations.
   • Focuses on the role of culture in shaping and reflecting the material conditions of society.

9. Feminist criticism

   • Explores the representation of gender and the role of women in literature, challenging patriarchal norms.
   • Analyzes how texts perpetuate or subvert gender stereotypes and power dynamics.
   • Advocates for the inclusion of women's voices and experiences in literary analysis.

10. New Historicism

    • Examines literature in relation to the historical and cultural context in which it was produced.
    • Argues that texts are influenced by and reflect the power dynamics and social issues of their time.
    • Emphasizes the interplay between literature and history, viewing them as interconnected.

11. Postcolonial criticism

    • Analyzes literature produced in the context of colonialism and its aftermath, focusing on issues of identity, power, and resistance.
    • Explores how colonial narratives shape cultural representations and the experiences of colonized peoples.
    • Critiques the legacy of colonialism and advocates for diverse voices and perspectives.

12. Queer theory

    • Examines literature through the lens of sexuality and gender identity, challenging heteronormative assumptions.
    • Explores how texts represent and construct notions of sexuality, desire, and identity.
    • Advocates for the visibility and inclusion of LGBTQ+ perspectives in literary analysis.

13. Ecocriticism

    • Analyzes literature's relationship with the environment, exploring themes of nature, ecology, and sustainability.
    • Examines how texts reflect and shape human interactions with the natural world.
    • Advocates for environmental awareness and the representation of ecological issues in literature.

14. Cultural studies

    • Investigates the relationship between culture, society, and literature, emphasizing the role of cultural practices and ideologies.
    • Analyzes how texts reflect and shape cultural identities, values, and power structures.
    • Encourages interdisciplinary approaches, drawing from sociology, anthropology, and media studies.

15. Postmodernism

    • Challenges traditional narratives and forms, embracing fragmentation, paradox, and playfulness in literature.
    • Questions the concepts of authorship, originality, and truth, often employing metafiction and intertextuality.
    • Reflects the complexities of contemporary life, including issues of identity, technology, and globalization.