literary lenses one text – many ways of seeing it
TRANSCRIPT
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….