LITERARY LENSES, AKA CRITICAL LENSES, OFFER A WAY TO ANALYZE LITERATURE

LITERARY LENSES PROVIDE A NEW FOCUS

THERE ARE MULTIPLE LENSES

• When you complete an analysis, you choose one
• There are advantages and disadvantages to each
• While lenses allow you to gain new focus, you lose other perspectives

THE FEMINIST, OR GENDER LENS

• Concerned with impact of gender on reading & writing
• Focus on how females (and males) are portrayed
• Focus on actions, gender roles, attitude, relationships
• Consider the messages about women & gender roles

MARXIST LENS

• Based on theories of Karl Marx
• A German philosopher and Communist revolutionary
• Examines subtle economic messages in the text
• Consider the messages about wealth & social status
• Focus on power, wealth, and social classes

PSYCHOLOGICAL LENS

• Based on the theories of Freud
• Focus on psychology of characters or author
• You need a basic understanding of psychology
• Consider the messages about characters' motivations

FREUD'S THEORIES

• Id-pleasure principle in the unconscious
• Superego-moral censoring in unconscious; protects society
• Ego-rational governing agent in unconscious; protects the individual
• Oedipus complex-boy's unconscious rivalry w/ his dad for his mom's love
• Electra complex-opposite of Oedipus-involves a daughter

A FEW MORE OF FREUD'S IDEAS...

• Concave images (ponds, flowers, caves, cups)= female symbols
• Convex images (skyscrapers, submarines, obelisks)=male symbols
• Water=birth, womb, death wish
• Actions like flying, dancing, riding= sexual pleasure

SO WHAT'S THE POINT?

• LENSES ALLOW YOU TO ANALYZE DEEPLY, WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS
• It is IMPERATIVE that you also explain why the author does what he/she does
• What-How-Why