Literary Criticism
Formalist (New Criticism)
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Formalist (New) Criticism
This type of criticism concerns itself with the parts of a text and how the parts fit together to
make a whole. Because of this, it does not bring in any information outside of the text:
biography of the author, historical or literary allusions, mythological patterns, or the
psychoanalytical traits of the characters (except those traits specifically described in the
text.)
The formalist critic examines each part of the text:
1. The structure (stanzas, lines, chapters, etc.)
2. the characters
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3. the settings
4. the tone
5. the point of view
6. the diction
7. language and literary devices used
After analyzing each part of the text, the critic then describes how they work together.-When exploring a work using Formalist Criticism, you will look at the parts, and then you
will discuss the craft of putting these parts together.
Formalist Criticism cont.
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Questions to consider:
Why do you think the author
chose this point of view?
Is the narrator reliable?
Does the author use to unite
the parts into a whole?
What are the symbols and
language, for example, that
contribute to the total effect
of the work?
How does the structure fit
into the work as a whole?
Format for Formalist Analysis
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Begin with a summary of the poem and the
theme.
Choose only elements that are relevant to the
piece.
Tie everything into the overall theme of the
poem.
Quote at least two lines from the poem with
in-text citation.
Formalist Criticism
In John Keat’s poem “When I Have Fears that I May Cease to
Be,” the speaker has a melancholy tone as he states all the
things he will miss when he dies, especially his love. The
structure of the poem lends itself to this theme with its
consistent rhyme scheme of a-b-a-b-c-d-c-d-e-f-e-f-g-g and
lines of iambic pentameter, making it a Shakespearean
sonnet. This format is typically associated with love because
the rhythm of the iam replicates the beating of a heart. This
theme of the importance of love is further emphasized by such
lines as “When I have fears that I may cease to be…/that I shall
never look upon thee more/Never have the relish in the fairy
power/Of unreflecting love” (1, 10-12). Furthermore, he
heightens the romantic effect by personifying the thing he will
miss. For example, “When I behold, upon the night’s starred
face/Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance” (5,6).
Moralistic Criticism
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Plato argues that literature (and art) is capable of corrupting or influencing
people to act or behave in various ways. Sometimes these themes, subject
matter, or the actions of literary characters undermine religion or ethics, he
warns. Aristotle and Horace both believed that literature can instruct as well as
corrupt. So care must be taken when writing or reading. This idea is picked up
later by Samuel Johnson and Matthew Arnold who see literature as a good way
to teach morality and probe philosophical ideas. The underlying principle then is
whether or not the text can be seen as A) moral, and B) practical or useful.
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Judge the value of the literature on its moral lesson or ethical teaching
A. Literature that that is ethically sound and encourages virtue is praised
B. Literature that misguides and/or corrupts is condemned
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Post Modern Moral Criticism asks how the work in question affects the reader.
Moralistic Criticism cont.
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Questions to consider:
1. Is the author and his/her treatment of subject (both
character and theme) mature, sincere, honest, sensitive, or
courageous? How so, and how does knowing this help us
approach the text in a meaningful way?
2. Does the text seek to corrupt or negatively influence the
reader? How so and/or why?
3. What moral lesson or ethical teaching is the author
presenting in the text/or through character, plot, or theme?
4. Does the work in question pose a moral lesson or
philosophical idea?
When I have Fears that I will Cease to
be….Moralistic Criticism
The theme of vanity is also pervasive in this poem.
In this poem, Keats eschews material possessions
and pride as he exalts the power of love. He catalogs
a list of the trivial in his life, including his own poetry:
“Before high-pilèd books, in charactery,/Hold like rich
garners the full ripened grain;” (3-4). After he
examines all of these useless things, he comes to
the conclusion that the only thing he will miss is his
true love’s face as stated, “That I shall never look
upon thee more,/Never have relish in the fairy
power/…Till love and fame to nothingness do sink”
(10-14).
Historical and Biographical Criticism
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These two very similar approaches to literature use the life and
times of the author to arrive an interpretation of a text.
Biographical theory is analysis based on the idea that a
person's life influences his or her work. When considering
biographical theory, look at the following aspects of an author's
identity: 1. class 2. race 3. ethnicity 4. sex and/or gender 5.
family history 6. religious and/or political beliefs 7. education
8. nationality.
Historical literary criticism focuses mainly on the subject's
relevance, relationship with, and influence upon the historical
period in which it was written. A historical critic looks at how the
time period influenced the writing of the work as well as how
events in the authors life influenced him or her.
Format for Bio/Historical Analysis
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State either the biographical information for
the author or the historical context of the
period s/he is writing about.
Tie this background into the piece itself.
Quote and/or paraphrase, but never copy
directly.
When I have Fears that I may Cease to
Be… Biographical/Historical Criticism
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John Keats had many tragedies in his life. When
Keats was eight, he lost his father to a tragic horse
accident that caused him to fracture his skull.
Furthermore, when Keats was fourteen, his mother
died of tuberculosis. Later in his life, Keats suffered
with the same disease and, after a long battle, he
succumbed to the disease at the age of twenty-six.
As stated in the article “John Keats,” The first months
of 1821 marked a slow and steady decline into the
final stage of tuberculosis. Keats was coughing up
blood and covered in sweat.” This preoccupation
with death is evidenced in “When I have Fears That I
May Cease to Be” as he ponders what he finds truly
important in life.