literary lenses one text – many ways of seeing it

Literary LensesOne Text – Many Ways of

Seeing It

Literary Lenses Defined

Way to understand the various ways people read texts.

Most of us read texts with many different theories in mind…at the same time.

Not everyone will interpret the same text in the same way!

How Many Pandas Do You See?

What Do You See?

Nice Vase…Ehh?

Woman in White?

Where is this young woman looking?

Back to Literary Lenses!

So what is the point?

Do we ALL see literature (or anything else we read) the same way?

What evidence do you have of your thoughts to the above question?

Types of Literary Lenses

Historical Feminist Marxist Formalism Reader Response

Historical Views text as related to the time

during which it was written. The Crucible - Cold War Of Mice and Men - The Great Depression

Focuses on the social, political, and economic climate of the event

How to Look Through the Historic Lens

Examine the social, political, and economic culture of the time period in which something was written.

MOST readings done at Legacy are done through this lens

Since we have integrated lit. and history classes

Feminist

Views society as “patriarchal” Views society as “heterosexual”

Women and homosexuals not allowed to realize full potential.

Women and homosexuals seen as negative or inferior

How to Look Through the Feminist Lens

Consider the gender / orientation of the author

Consider the gender / orientation of characters

What roles do gender and sexuality play in this work?

Are sexual stereotypes reinforced or challenged?

Imagine yourself as the opposite gender while reading this piece

Marxist

Assumes society is influenced by economic and class structures

Who has money; who doesn’t Who has power; who doesn’t Who is “rich”; who is “poor”

How to Look Through the Marxist Lens

Consider who has the power and who doesn’t

Consider who has the money and who doesn’t

What role(s) do power, money, or class play in this work?

What happens as a result of these differences?

Formalism

Views text as an independent entity. Meaning is discovered through close

reading NOT by examining outside sources

How to Look Through the Formalist Lens

Focus on the cinematic level of the film

Mise en Scene Sound Music

Reader (Viewer) Response

Focuses on the activity of viewing a film

Meaning is derived as the reader reads

The work itself is LESS important that the connection between the reader’s experience and that text.

How to Look Through the Reader Response Lens

Ummm….just watch(no…seriously) Track what you think and interpret

the text to mean! Bring your own thoughts, moods, and

experiences to the text. What you get out of the text will be

based upon your own experiences and ideas!

So What is the Point?

Literal level Notice these structures for each lens Point out the history, the women, the

powerful

Interpretive level Answer the “so what…” question Seek deeper meaning What might the author be implying with a

powerful woman, a class conflict, or similes throughout?

Example to Ponder -The Lion King

Historical Made in 1990s Time of great political upheaval in world

Feminist Helpless females Females provide food and care for the

young yet males have ALL the power Nala is stronger than Simba, but she

does not inherit the crown

The Lion King (cont.) Marxist

Males have all the power (Mufasa, Simba, Scar) When Mufasa dies, Simba is the ONLY one considered for

the crown. Lions retain power over all other animals Hyenas are weak (lower-class) Class rebellion leads to the conflict of the film

Formalist Examine songs and messages? Examine artwork?

Reader Response I like it because…. It reminds me of…. This connects to Hamlet….