Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Cordillera Administrative Region
Schools Division of Benguet
TUBLAY DISTRICT
TUBLAY SCHOOL OF HOME INDUSTRIES (TSHI) Main
Acop, Caponga, Tublay, Benguet

CRITICAL APPROACHES IN WRITING A CRITIQUE

CRITICAL DESCRIPTION TENETS OR

1. Formalist This deals with the form of a literary work to 1. Literary texts have
Criticism or show its meaning, focusing on literary elements “fixed meanings.”
Formalism (properties like characters, setting, point of view, etc.) This means they
and how they work to give meaning. The reader exist independent of
needs to close read the texts and analyze the effects any particular reader
of literary elements and techniques on the text or context.
(Rubino, n. d).
Further, according to Wilber (n.d.), formalism
is a critical approach that analyzes, interprets, and 2. The greatest
evaluates the inherent features of a text, such as literary texts are
grammar, syntax, symbolism, use of language to “timeless” and
figure out the meaning of a literary text. “universal.”
This strategy is useful for analyzing dramas
and fiction. The first step in the formalist approach to
interpret literary works is to discover what words
actually mean in the complete extension and
intentional value of that word. The purpose of
formalist criticism is the key to finding the structure
and meaning of literary works (EssayBot, n. d).
Example: Reading a poem focusing on its
rhythms, rhymes, cadences, and structure…

2. New Historicist or This assumes that every literary work is the 1. Gives appropriate
Historical Criticism product of its time and its world. In other words, the background
piece of literature was done during a time when a information on how
certain thing or event happened. (Rubino, 2015) texts were perceived in
their time.
Example: "I Have A Dream" speech of Martin
Luther King Jr. came into existence during his time 2. Examines how
when discrimination was imposed on the Black literary texts reflect the
Americans. With this situation, historical criticism ideas, beliefs, and
can be applied as the approach in writing attitudes of the time in
its analysis or evaluation. which they were
created.
3.Psychological This is based on the work of Sigmund Freud. 1. Views characters in
/ Psychoanalytic The text is seen as a reflection of the author’s mind Literature as a
Criticism and personality. In other words, the text or piece of reflection of the author
literature was written based on what's in the mind himself
and personality of the author (Rubino, 2015). 2. Uses in-depth
character analysis to
Example: Edgar Allan Poe's sad stories understand ulterior
which are full of mystery were influenced by the real- motives of the
life murders he witnessed during his time. With this, characters.
you can write your own evaluation of the 3. It has something to
story using psychological or psychoanalytic criticism. do with hidden causes
of irrational behavior
(Helpme.com)
4. Reader- This argues that the meaning of a text is 1. A person’s
Response dependent upon the reader’s response to it. interpretation will likely
Criticism change over time, as
*It focuses on the act of reading and how it they have more and
affects readers’ perceptions of a text more experiences to
*Text is an EXPERIENCE, not an object. bring with them to the
* The text is a living thing that exists in the text. 2. Readers from
reader’s imagination different periods of time,
READER + READING SITUATION + TEXT different cultures, and
= MEANING different places will have
different interpretations
Example: You read a story about a central of the same text.
character who is fun of viewing purely horror stories.
The effect made him fearful not only during night
time, but day time, as well. With this that you have
read, you can apply reader-
response criticism.
5. Sociological It argues that social contexts must be taken into
consideration when analyzing a text. Literature is a reflection of
Criticism the society that created it.
* Focuses on the beliefs and values of a
society and how they are reflected in a text
* Focuses on economic, political, and cultural
issues within a literary text (Rubino, 2015)
Example: If someone has read a write-up about
how the highlanders of the Cordilleras do marriage
activities, then he can use social
criticism as the method.
6. Feminist This focuses on the roles, positions, and 1. Western civilization
Criticism or influences of women within literary texts. is patriarchal.
Feminism *Many feminist critics look at how the characters, 2. Patriarchal
especially the female characters, are portrayed and ideals pervade
ask us to consider how the portrayal of female Literature.
characters “reinforces or undermines sexual 3. Most Literature
stereotypes” (Lynn). Feminist literary criticism also throughout time has
suggests that the gender of the reader often affects been gender-biased
our response to a text. For instance, feminist critics (because most lasting
may claim that certain male writers address their Literature has been
readers as if they were all men and exclude the written by men).
female reader
Example: One can use this kind of approach
(feminist) in assessing a text or essay that deals
with the roles of women in today's society.