Criticisims in Literature
There exist many ways for one to critically analyze a piece of literature. Many of these techniques come from mixing literature with other areas of studying (psychology, history, anthropology), while others stem from the basics of literature itself. All techniques however help a critic in their analysis of any form of literature. These critiques help others to understand something about a particular work before (or after) they read it themselves. The following are just a couple of the ways to analyze literature, as well as examples of each.
The first type of critique is Moral/Intellectual. This type of analysis deals with finding a lesson or moral of the work in question and then applying it to life. This analysis should try to find someway for the reader to live a fuller life or at least improve their outlook on the world around them. This approach should only be used if the lesson can be applied to a certain aspect of life.
This is an example of a Moral/Intellectual criticism using The Hobbit.
In The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, a seemingly innocent hobbit, slowly becomes a prominent leader as the book progresses. This shows that no matter how unlikely the person, there lies within everyone a leader. No matter how people think of themselves, they have inside of them a leader, sometimes all it takes is for that person to leave their comfort zone and see what lies beyond it.
The next critique is Topical/Historical. Topical/Historical criticisms are unique in the sense that they deal with the historical period that the author lived in. This critique is useful with some works because the history behind them is important in the reader understanding the reasons behind why the author wrote what they wrote. Sometimes the history behind an author can provide a better understanding about a piece than any other form of criticism.
This is an example of a Topical/Historical criticism using
New Critical/Formalist criticisms focus upon analyzing texts as works of art. The method used includes detailed examinations and explanations, and works best on poems and short passages. When needing to analyze larger works, New Critical/Formalist critiques can utilize various elements of literature for the criticism. The main point of this criticism is to provide the reader with an explanation of the content of the work, but also with the means for...