Approaches and methods of studying literature
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The document outlines various approaches to studying literature, including formalistic, moral/humanistic, historical, cultural, and psychological methods. Each approach emphasizes different aspects, such as literary elements, ethical considerations, societal context, cultural significance, and psychological interpretations. The conclusion highlights the distinct focus of each method, providing a comprehensive understanding of literature's multifaceted nature.
Approaches and methods of studying literature
- 2. FORMALISTIC / LITERARY APPROACH Also called “PURE” or “LITERARY” approach The selection is read and viewed intrinsically, or for itself; independent of author, age, or any other extrinsic factor. This approach is close to the “art for art’s sake” dictum
- 3. The study of the selection is more is more or less based on the so – called literary elements which is more or less boil down to the literal level, the affective values, the ideational values, technical values, and total effects.
- 4. The literal level (subject matter) The affective values (emotional, mood, atmosphere, tone attitudes, empathy) The ideational values (themes, visions, universal truths, character) Technical Values (plot, structure, scene, language, point of view, imagery, figure, metrics, etc.) Total Effect (the interrelation of the foregoing elements)
- 5. MORAL AND HUMANISTIC APPROACH The nature of man is CENTRAL to literature. The reader or teacher or critic more or less “requires” that the piece present MAN AS ESSENTIALY RATIONAL, that is endowed with intellect and free will; or that the piece does not misinterpret the true nature of man
- 6. In these times of course the TRUE NATURE OF MAN is hotly contested, making literature all the more challenging. This approach is close to the “MORALITY” of literature, to the questions of ethical goodness and badness
- 7. HISTORICAL APPROACH Sees literature as both a reflection and product of the times and circumstances in which it is written. Man as a member of a particular society or nation at a particular time, is central to the approach and whenever a teacher gives historical or biographical backgrounds in introducing a selection, or arranges a literature course in chronological order, he is hewing close to this approach.
- 8. The historical approach is often suitable to high school classes, to survey courses, for “average” classes, and for pieces tackled or “discovered” for the first time. It operates on the premise that the history of a nation has telling effects on its literature and that a piece can be better understood and appreciated if one knows the times around its creation.
- 9. CULTURAL APPROACH Considers literature as one of the principal manifestation and vehicles of a nation’s or race’s culture and tradition. It includes the entire complex of what goes under “culture” ---- the technological, the artistic, the sociological, the ideological aspects, and considers the literary piece in the total culture milieu in which it was born.
- 10. This approach in one of the richest way to arrive at the culture of the people and one of the most pleasurable ways of appreciating the literature of the people. It goes by the dictum “culture teaching through literature”.
- 11. PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH Set in dizzying motion, principally, by FREUD, perhaps beyond his wildest expectations, it considers literature as the EXPRESSION OF PERSONALITY of “Inner Drives” of neurosis. It includes the psychology of the author, of the character, and even the psychology of creation. It has resulted in an almost exhausting and exhaustive “psychological analysis” of the characters of symbols and images, of recurrent themes, etc.
- 12. Conclusion Formalistic – based on the literary elements Moral / Humanistic – close to the morality of literature , to questions of ethical goodness and badness. Historical – sees literature as both a reflection and a product of the times and circumstances in which it is written. Cultural – an approach in knowing the culture of the people and one of the pleasurable ways of appreciating the literature of the people. Psychological – considers literature as the expression of “personality”, of “inner drive” of neurosis.