This assignment serves two purposes: to read a longer work of fiction to apply the elements of literature
(character, plot, setting, etc.) learned in class and to apply analytical skills. Your second analysis paper for
this class will involve taking a critical look at a piece of literature, forming an opinion about it using three of
the forms of literary criticism from the handout provided, and finding support from other literary critics for
your opinion.
To learn about the various critical theories, read the following handout: Literary Critical Theories and
Examples_Fall2020.docx
In addition to this handout, watch the following YouTube video to learn about these critical theories:
Watch Video
Critical Theory and Analyzing Literature Lectures
Duration: 13:23
User: n/a – Added: 12/27/16
YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_TbugJcK5I
Watch Video
Formalist CriticismDuration: 10:46
User: n/a – Added: 9/12/18
YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuS4j66x96E
Watch Video
Feminist Literary Criticism Lecture
Duration: 36:01
User: n/a – Added: 3/4/18
YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ic7cJuaBtU
Watch Video
Marxist Criticism
Duration: 6:38
User: n/a – Added: 9/18/14
YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVWtb9BrMDQ
Watch Video
Historial criticism
Duration: 7:51
User: n/a – Added: 9/10/18
YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyPbFWR1Z14
Once you have learned about these theories, choose three critical theories and apply them to Paradise
Lost, Prometheus Unbound, Othello, The Importance of Being Earnes, Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde or Heart of
Darkness.
Of the three critical theories, biographical criticism is required (unless you are writing the analysis over
Shakespeare). The remaining two criticisms (ie Feminist, Marxist, Psychoanalytical) to be included in your
paper are your choice. Use the questions in the handout to guide your analysis. Do not simply answer the
questions. Instead, select a number of them and critically analyze the text through these lenses.
The second component of this essay is to use sources to support your ideas and findings. You must use at
least 4 sources from the library databases. Do not use the Internet as a source. View the following video to
assist you with the library databases and the organization of the assignment:
Some of these sources can include the a general Discovery Search in the library databases or a specific
search using the Gale Reference and other specific databases for literature.
The objective of incorporating these critics is not to write about others think about the reading you have
selected, but to use their comments in your own application of the critical theories. Also, you have flexibility
to include the comments from literary critics in a number of ways, including, but not limited to, using the
literary critic to support your analysis, as a point of refutation or challenge, and as reflection within an introduction or conclusion.
Your grade on the paper will be determined by how well you use the conventions of formal, academic
English, how well you support your thesis, how well you incorporate a variety of outside sources, and how
well you meet the requirements for length and subject matter. Although the syllabus does not specify the
page length for this paper, do not be surprised if it runs between 7-12 pages long.
Any quotations from the novel or from your sources must be cited according to MLA (or APA if you feel
more comfortable with the documentation style). If not cited properly, this will be deemed as plagiarism