Literary Criticism

Literary Criticism

Literary Criticism

Critical Lenses

1. Historical Criticism: Historical critics are interested in what was happening at the time the tale was written. They might ask: How do historical facts of twentieth-century America affect our understanding of the story? What historical events of the time relate to race, religion, or culture?

2. Marxist Criticism: Marxist critics are interested in power relationships between classes and in the uses and abuses of capital. They might ask: How is power distributed and exercised within the story? Who has the power in the settings the main characters find themselves? How do the powerful use their power? Who doesn’t have power and why?

3. Psychological Criticism: Psychological critics apply the insights of psychology to literary characters. They might ask: What traditional aspects of human personality (heart, mind, and soul) are most prominent in each of these characters? What modern psychological concepts, such as the unconscious (hidden desires and meanings), defense mechanisms (displacement, denial, projection, etc.), eros and thanatos (love and death), and aspects of the mind (id, ego, and superego) can help us understand what goes on in the story? What motives drive the main character in his/her actions? What other relationships are important in the story?

4. Feminist Criticism: Feminist critics are interested in gender issues, including power relationships between men and women, sexual stereotyping, etc. They might ask: How are the events of the story related to gender? To what extent is the main character in control of her life, and to what extent is she controlled by others? Does this story ultimately challenge or reinforce gender stereotypes and patriarchal norms?

Your Challenge:

Select ONE of the lenses above and readGrimms’ version of “Cinderella” (on our Wiki)focusing on that perspective. Underline or highlight passages that directly relate to your selected lens. You will then discuss the story on our Wikispaces site (add to the discussion of your selected lens).