When the written word evolves, so does literary criticism. Critics of the modern age now have various methods and techniques in order to interpret an author’s work. In this post, you will learn about the various changes in literary criticism and how they approach the various types of written work.

1. Mythological Criticism

This critical approach seeks to understand the universal patterns and symbols hidden in various literary works. Mythological critics use a variety of disciplines like anthropology, history, or comparative religion. Their objective is to study how authors and readers use their imaginations in creating myths and symbols in their works. This approach also deals with the concept of archetypes – a symbol, character, or a situation that has a deep, universal meaning that can trigger the collective unconscious.

2. Reader-response Criticism

Reader-response critics try to understand how a reader’s mind interprets text. While most theories state that writing is a creative process, this literary approach states that reading is also part of the creative process. Reader-response critics believe that no written work has a self-contained meaning and it can only be finished if absorbed and interpreted. They also believe that there is no right or wrong interpretation, and that the plurality of reading exists.

3. Deconstructionist Criticism

This literary approach rejects the common belief that language is the key to depict an accurate picture or reality. Deconstructionists agree that language is a very unstable medium, and that literary texts, which are made of words, do not have a fixed, united meaning. Both formalist and deconstructionist criticism practice close reading methods when studying a piece of written work. But while the former approach shows how the elements of a text join together into a single meaning, the latter studies how it can be broken down into different, irreconcilable pieces. In a deconstructionist’s point of view, poems and novels are just words written on a page, therefore they are not considered as higher forms of art. In addition, they believe that all texts are created equally, but all of them are also untrustworthy.

4. New Historicism

Before, historical criticism delved into studying the author’s life, social background, and the ideologies of his time to understand their literary pieces. But as new critics arrive, this theory has evolved. New historicism dwells on understanding the meaning of written work using the contexts of history and prevailing ideas. These critics concern themselves with how literature can affect politics and the way cultures evolve. New historicists believe that history is not just a record of facts or events that happened in the past, but it is also an intricate picture of human reality and how they form their beliefs.

Literary criticisms are vital for the development of the written word. Without it, readers would find it hard to interpret the various works of old and new authors. Literary criticisms can also help writers in various ways. By challenging the ideas and values of their works, they will be guided as to what is good and right, and they will be more determined to create more refined works.