ENGLISH 10

Quarter 3 - Week 4: Literary Criticism

Most Essential Competency:

Critique a literary selection based on the following approaches:
structuralist / formalist, moralist, Marxist, feminist, historical, reader-response

Before starting this module, I want you to set aside other tasks that will disturb you while
enjoying the lessons. Read the simple instructions below to successfully enjoy the objectives of
this kit. Have fun!
1. Follow carefully all the instructions indicated in every page of this module.
2. On your notebook, write the concepts about the lessons. Writing enhances learning; that
is important to develop and to keep in mind.
3. Perform all the provided activities in this module.
4. Let your facilitator/guardian assess your answers using the answer key card.
5. Analyze conceptually the post-test and apply what you have learned.
6. Enjoy studying!

LESSON 4: Critical Approaches to Literature

It is certain that by now you can create an independent critique of a certain selection. This
time, you will see a story through a different eye. In other words, you will now criticize a story
and look at it in different perspective.

Specifically, this module will help you to:

• identify the different critical approaches to literature used in a certain statement;
• express your opinion using varied critical perspectives about a certain piece; and,

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 • grasp and value the various critical approaches as a way to convey a multi-layered construct
of meaning.
Are you ready for a roller-coaster ride of ideas? I am sure you are excited to shift your
perspectives! Let’s start by checking your equipment for our adventure.
Answer the pre-test confidently; I am sure you can do it! Smile!

Directions: Identify what literary approach is being referred to. Encircle the letter of the correct
answer.
1. This approach talks mainly about the elements of form – style, structure, imagery, tone, etc.
A) historical C) structuralist/ formalist
B) Marxist D) feminist

2. It is a critical approach of literature that seeks to understand the literary work by investigating
the social, cultural, and intellectual context that produced it.
A) reader-response C) feminist
B) historical D) structuralist/ formalist

3. It is a type of criticism that views literary pieces as a product of one’s work and whose
practitioners emphasize the role of social status and ideologies.
A) Marxist C) reader-response
B) moralist D) feminist

4. It is an approach that seeks to analyze and describe the ways in which literature portrays the
narrative of male domination by exploring the economic, social, political, and psychological forces
embedded within literature.
A) feminist C) reader-response
B) historical D) Marxist

5. This approach takes as a fundamental idea that "literature" exists not as an artifact upon a printed
page, but as a transaction between the physical text and the mind of a reader.
A) Marxist C) reader-response
B) Feminist D) historical

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 Literature is a body of written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting
artistic merit. It is a collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings
specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. Continue
reading to know more!

https://unsplash.com/photos/woMD-vhzOHI
“Just because you think you’re right, doesn’t mean other people are wrong.”

Critical approaches to literature help us understand how or why a particular work is written
and what its social and cultural implications are. It also tells us that a certain literary piece can be
expressed in so many ways!
With literary criticism, you can tell how or why a certain piece is created. Understanding
critical perspectives will help you appreciate a literary work, as a rich stratum of ideas and
concepts. In this lesson, you will reread, rethink and respond.

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This lesson talks about six (6) critical approaches to literature.

1. Structuralist / Formalist – It is an approach that analyzes what the work means (theme),
and how it conveys its meaning (style), the relation of theme to style. Literature is a form
of knowledge with intrinsic elements--style, structure, imagery, tone, and genre.
Structuralist / formalist approach gives a literary work status as art, or as a great work of
art, and how all of its elements work together to create the reader's total experience.
Formalist criticism is evaluative, it differentiates great works of art from poor works of art.

2. Moralist – This is the oldest approach since literature itself is a way to impart morality and
philosophy. Moralist approach is concerned with content and values. It presents man and
his nature and states that he is rational. It does not only concern to discover meaning but
also to determine what is true and significant.

3. Marxist – This approach relates literary text to the society, history, cultural, and political
systems in which it is created. It does not consider a literary text devoid of its writer and
the influences on the writer. Marxist criticism views literary works as reflections of the
social institutions from which they originate.

4. Feminist – This approach is concerned with "the ways in which literature (and other
cultural productions) reinforce or undermine the economic, political, social, and
psychological oppression of women.” The feminist approach seeks to analyze and describe
the ways in which literature portrays the narrative of male domination by exploring the
economic, social, political, and psychological forces embedded within literature.

5. Historical – This approach "seeks to understand a literary work by investigating social,

cultural, and intellectual context that produced it—a context that necessarily includes the
artist's biography and background." A key goal for historical critics is to understand the
effect of a literary work upon its original readers.

6. Reader-Response – This approach takes as a fundamental idea that "literature" exists not
as an artifact upon a printed page but as a transaction between the physical text and the
mind of a reader. It attempts "to describe what happens in the reader's mind while
interpreting a text" and reflects that reading, like writing, is a creative process.

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Activity 1: A Story of Friends
A. Recall a funny story about you and your friends. Write a short paragraph about your
experience in your own perspective.
B. Write the same story but from the perspective of your friend who happens to have
experienced the same story with you. You will be amazed to see how multi-layered your story can
be!

Activity 2: Upon Seeing the Orange

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fptop.only.wip.la%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fpluspng.com%2Forange-png-1137.html&psig=AOvVaw2IstG-L8CYzL-
iRSDFwpg_&ust=1595523131606000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCIC0jP6o4eoCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAN

Identify what critical literary approach is employed in these questions. Write your answer on
the space provided.
Upon seeing the orange,

a. Who owns the orange? What could be the price of the orange?
_____________________________________________________
b. How can the peel and the flesh of the orange differ from each other?
_____________________________________________________
c. Should oranges be shared to those in need? Why?
_____________________________________________________
d. What does the orange taste like? What does the orange remind you of?
_____________________________________________________
e. Where did the orange come from? Do our ancestors like orange?
______________________________________________________

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Activity 3: What a Wonderful World
For this activity, you will express your view and opinion using the six (6) critical approaches
to literature. Listen to the song.

“What a Wonderful World”

by Louise Armstrong
(YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE)

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you
I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more, then I'll never know
Then I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world

Literary criticism is the comparison, analysis, interpretation, and/or evaluation of works of

literature. Literary criticism is essentially an opinion, supported by evidence, relating to theme,
style, setting or historical or political context. The critic's specific purpose may be to make valued
judgements on a work, to explain his or her interpretation of the work, or to provide other readers
with relevant historical or biographical information. The critic's general purpose, in most cases, is
to enrich the reader's understanding of the literary work. Critics typically engage in a dialogue or
a debate. Moreover, critics use the views of fellow critics to develop their own points or
perspectives.

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 Identify what critical approach to literature is being stated. Write your answer on the space
provided.
1. It focuses mainly on the structure and form of the literary piece. ____________________
2. This approach attempts to describe what could be in the readers’ mind. ______________
3. It is an approach that is very much concerned with content and values. ________________
4. This approach views literary works as reflections of the social institutions of the places
where the pieces came from. ____________________
5. This is an approach that aims to understand the impact of the piece to its original audience.
______________________
6. It tries to convey views of women regarding various principles. __________

Watch the following movies from various critical approaches to literature. Answer the
questions in your own viewpoint.
You can use the links below:
• Shrek: https://www.levidia.ch/movie.php?watch=shrek
• Tangled: https://www.levidia.ch/movie.php?watch=tangled
• Mulan: https://www.levidia.ch/movie.php?watch=mulan

Shrek Tangled Mulan

What do you think is the

historical background of
the story?

How do you feel about

the story?

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 What does the story say
about women?

What value/s is/are

present in the story?

Make a poster illustrating the different views that can be conveyed in expressing the message
of the poem, “Song of Autumn” by Charles Baudelaire. Feel free to express your views in the
poster. Let’s enjoy and get critical!

Song of autumn
Charles Baudelaire
(English translation)

Soon we shall plunge into the cold darkness;

Farewell, vivid brightness of our short-lived summers!
Already I hear the dismal sound of firewood
Falling with a clatter on the courtyard pavements.
All winter will possess my being: wrath,
Hate, horror, shivering, hard, forced labor,
And, like the sun in his polar Hades,
My heart will be no more than a frozen red block.

All atremble I listen to each falling log;

The building of a scaffold has no duller sound.
My spirit resembles the tower which crumbles
Under the tireless blows of the battering ram.

It seems to me, lulled by these monotonous shocks,

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That somewhere they’re nailing a coffin, in great haste.
For whom? — Yesterday was summer; here is autumn
That mysterious noise sounds like a departure.

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 II

I love the greenish light of your long eyes,

Sweet beauty, but today all to me is bitter;
Nothing, neither your love, your boudoir, nor your hearth
Is worth as much as the sunlight on the sea.

Yet, love me, tender heart!

be a mother, Even to an ingrate, even to a scapegrace;
Mistress or sister, be the fleeting sweetness
Of a gorgeous autumn or of a setting sun.

Short task! The tomb awaits; it is avid!

Ah! let me, with my head bowed on your knees,
Taste the sweet, yellow rays of the end of autumn,
While I mourn for the white, torrid summer!

Your will be evaluated using the following criteria:

Criteria 4 3 2 1
Relevance All the elements Most details are Only few details Details show little
used are related to relevant but some are related to the or no relation to
the text. are not. text. the text
Presentation Ideas are Most details are
A little or none of
presented in a presented well Few details are
the parts are
logical and however some are well-presented.
presented nicely.
artistic way. not.
Artistry Very few or none
The work was Most parts of the Some elements of
of the parts are
very visually output were very the output are
visually
appealing. well drawn. nicely done.
appealing.
Neatness The output has so
The output was There are very There are evident
many
very well-made minimal smudges unnecessary dirt
unnecessary
and free of mess. and dirt. and smudges.
messes.

Module Writer:
DEEJAY J. SANTIAGO

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References:
cruz/anglophone-literature/critical-approaches-to-literature
http://gullibletravel.tripod.com/CriticalApproachesLiterature.htm
http://home.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/200/litcrit.html
https://sites.google.com/site/estesinversos/Home/uesc---universidade-estadual-de-santa-
https://unsplash.com/photos/woMD-vhzOHI
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fptop.only.wip.la%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fpluspng.com%2Forange-png-
1137.html&psig=AOvVaw2IstG-L8CYzL-
iRSDFwpg_&ust=1595523131606000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCIC0jP6o4eoC
FQAAAAAdAAAAABAN
https://www.uv.es/~fores/programa/hale_literarycritic.html#:~:text=The%20critic's%20specific%20purpo
se%20may,understanding%20of%20the%20literary%20work.
https://www.yeyebook.com/en/song-of-autumn-poem-by-charles-baudelaire-english-text-eng/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE
Source: Lyric Find
Songwriters: Robert Thiele / George Douglas / George David Weiss
What a Wonderful World lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc, BMG
Rights Management, Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs, Concord Music Publishing LLC, Carlin
America Inc
ANSWER KEY
Pre-test:
Activity 2:
1. C
a. Marxist
2. B
b. formalist/structuralist
3. A
c. moralist
4. A
d. reader-response
5. C
e. historical
Check your Understanding:
1. Formalist / Structuralist Approach
Post Test:
2. Reader Response Approach
Answers may vary
3. Moralist Approach
4. Marxist Approach
5. Historical Approach
6. Feminist Approach

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 ANSWER SHEET ENGLISH 10 Q3 WEEK 4

Name of Student: ______________________________ Grade & Section: _____________

PRE-TEST
Directions: Identify what literary approach is being discussed. Choose the letter of the correct
answer.

1. ______ 2. ______ 3. ______ 4. ______ 5. ______

ACTIVITY 1: A Story of Friends

A.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
B.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

ACTIVITY 2: Upon Seeing the Orange

a. __________________________ d. _____________________________
b. __________________________ e. _____________________________
c. __________________________

ACTIVITY 3: What a Wonderful World

1. Structuralist/Formalist
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. Moralist
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Marxist
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. Feminist
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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 5. Historical
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6. Reader-Response
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Directions: Identify which critical approach to literature is being stated:
1. __________________________ 4. ______________________________
2. __________________________ 5. ______________________________
3. __________________________ 6. ______________________________

POST TEST
Directions: Fill in the table below by analyzing each story from the various critical approaches to
literature. Feel free to answer the questions in your own unique view.

Shrek Tangled Mulan

What do you think is the

historical background of
the story?

How do you feel about

the story?

What does the story say

about women?

What value/s is/are

present in the story?

REFLECTION
Directions: Using a poster, illustrate the different views that can be conveyed in expressing the
message of the poem “Song of Autumn” by Charles Baudelaire. Feel free to express your views
in the poster. Enjoy and get critical!