English 10

Quarter III Module 4: Writing Critiques

MELC No. 4. Critique a literary selection based on various approaches

What I Need to Know

After going through argumentative, persuasive, and informative types of writing, you will
now be introduced to various approaches in critiquing literary selections. In this module, you are
expected to come up with several critiques of various literary selections using the structuralist,
moralist, feminist and historical approaches in literary criticism. (Quarter III MELC nos. 3 and 4)
On a specific note, you are expected to accomplish the following objectives:
1. Note on the essential aspects of various literary criticism approaches;
2. Identify the approach used in a sample critiques presented; and
3. Critique literary selections using the appropriate literary criticism approach.

What I Know
Encircle the letters of the correct answers.

1. A ____________ is a type of writing that critically evaluates a piece of literary work in detail.
A. literary feature B. literary critique
C. literary research D. literary development

2. “Literary analysis involves examining all the parts of a literary piece and thinking about how the
author uses those elements to create certain effects.” The statement is ___________.
A. True B. False C. Uncertain D. Improbable
3. Which is NOT a literary analysis?
A. a type of writing that critically evaluates a piece of literary work in detail
B. a critical essay, an article evaluating a literary piece, or a review
C. a summary that identifies the central issue of a text
D. a write up that points out the flaws and mistakes of a literary piece

4. “(I) Approaches in literary criticism are like lenses that critics use to view and analyze the literary
piece. (II) These lenses allow critics to study works of art based from assumptions innate to the
particular approach.” What can you say about the two statements?
A. Statements I and II are both true. B. Statements I and II are both false.
C. Statement I is true but II is false. D. Statement I is false but II is true.

5. Formalist approach looks at the following except ___________.

A. genre of the text B. structure
C. history of the place D. imagery

6. Which approach in literary criticism sees the work as the work itself excluding all outside factors
such as author’s life, history, background, etc.?
A. Formalist B. Feminist
C. Historical D. Moralist

7. The female character’s essential role in the development of the literary piece is highlighted in
which approach in literary criticism?
A. Formalist B. Feminist
C. Historical D. Moralist
8. Moralist approach in literary criticism focuses on the story’s __________.
A. structure B. elements
C. language D. life lesson

9. Complete the analogy: Historical Approach: Background of the Story ; Formalist :________.
A. Women Empowerment B. Life Lessons and Values
C. Text Structure D. Real Life Experiences

10. Which of the following questions is asked in critiquing a text using formalist approach?
A. What lesson in the story is applicable in real life?
B. What female characteristic is highlighted in the story?
C. Is the language used in the text clear?
D. In what year was the story written?

= What’s New

Answer the crossword puzzle that follows. Consider the hints given. Answer the motive
question afterwards.

Across
1. These are general ways and manners of doing something.
2. The act of criticizing
3. What you learn from experiences

Down
4. Opposite of foreground
5. Synonymous to framework and skeleton
6. A movement for and of women

Motive Question:
1. How do you effectively analyze literary pieces?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

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 In the previous modules, you have studied various types of writing namely argumentative,
informative, and persuasive. Bear in mind the following. Argumentative writing aims to discuss
two sides of an issue and lets the readers believe to a point. Informative writing, on the other
hand, conveys information to the readers. Meanwhile, persuasive writing primarily moves
readers to believe a point and do certain cause of action using more dramatic and intensive
techniques.
In this module, you are to study another broad discipline of writing which is literary
criticism.

What is It

When you read for pleasure, you only aim at enjoying. Often, you might find yourself
reading to get caught up in an exciting story, to learn about an interesting fact, or just let time pass
by. Also through reading, you might be looking for inspiration, guidance, or a reflection of your
own life.
However, when you read a work of literature in an English class, your goal shifts beyond
just extensive reading. You are often being asked to perform literary analysis to analyze their
smaller details and then examine how those parts work, both individually and together. Literary
analysis involves examining all the parts of a novel, play, short story, or poem, the elements such
as character, setting, tone, and imagery, and thinking about how the author uses those elements
to create certain effects.
A literary analysis or critique is a type of writing that critically evaluates a piece of literary
work in detail. A critique could be a critical essay, an article evaluating a literary piece, or a review.
It may be just like a summary that identifies the central issue, raises questions, takes notice of
theoretical and experimental approaches, and reviews the significance of the results.

Tips in Writing Critiques

1. Read and understand the text thoroughly. Remember that you are to analyze the
literary piece and it will not be possible to do it without totally understanding it. Repeat
reading, highlight key points, and identify the necessary elements of the literary piece.
2. Start your critique by writing the basic elements of the story. Mention the title,
author, the main characters, setting, and the summary of the story. Give a brief description
of the text.
3. Summarize the story’s plot. Focus on the climax and the ending. State the relevance
of the events to the theme.
4. If critiquing a poem, focus on the meaning of the lines and stanzas. Take a look
the symbols, figures of speech, and connotations. Simply interpret the poem based from
your understanding.
5. State an impression on literary piece. Justify also why you have such feelings
towards the text.
6. Choose a suitable approach suitable to the literary piece being analyzed. Almost
all of these approaches can be used to analyze a text, but there is one best approach that
would suit the text depending on the characteristic of the literary work. For instance, a
story with female protagonist may be best analyzed using feminist approach. On the other
hand, a historical novel would be best seen using historical perspective.

Sample Literary Critique

"The Necklace" written by Guy de Maupassant presents the ill effects of pretention
and dishonesty to man’s life. Focusing on the importance of honesty and being happy with
who you are, the story shows how the main character, Mathilde encountered misfortunes
by pretending to be who she is not.

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 The story revolved around the Mathilde, a miserable and selfish wife of a "little
clerk" who suffers from the poverty of her dwelling, and dreams of a rich and elegant
lifestyle where she is beautiful and envied. This conflict within Mathilde drives her
throughout the story while her dedicated husband, M. Loisel, is content with their life and
wishes to make her happy despite everything he must endure. After being invited to a ball,
he eagerly takes it home to his wife who is ungrateful because she does not feel that she
has anything suitable to wear. After having a new dress made, Mathilde can't imagine going
to the ball without a single jewel so she borrows a beautiful necklace from her friend Mme.
Forestier. The day of the ball proved to be everything Mathilde imagined, but it all ends
when she loses the necklace. Although M. Loisel and Mathilde find a replacement necklace,
they spend "ten years in grinding poverty until they finally paid off their debt," only to
discover that the necklace was not a diamond necklace but just mere costume jewelry.
In the end, the story shows that things are not always what they seem, material
things do not define the person and that money cannot solve all problems and may in fact
create them.

Approaches in Writing Critiques

There are various approaches that can be used in critiquing literary works. Approaches in
literary criticism are like lenses that critics use to view and analyze the literary piece. These
different lenses allow critics to consider works of art based on certain assumptions innate to the
particular approach. These serve as perspectives that allow critics to focus on particular aspects
of a literary work.

I. Structuralist/Formalist Approach
The formalist approach to literature examines a text by its organic form - its setting,
theme, scene, narrative, image, symbol, and genre. It sees the innate attributes of texts objectively
excluding any external elements (i.e. author's personal life or the social, historic background of
the time the text was written or the reader's bias) in criticism.
This approach can be used in almost all literary works because language and structure
are innate aspects of any literary piece. In analyzing a text using formalist approach, you take a
look at the following aspects of the text.
1. Genre
This is the type of text and writing discipline to which the piece belongs. A work
may be under prose (essay novels, short stories, novellas, and scripts.) or classified as
poetry. (sonnets, lyric poems, epics, ballads, ode, etc.)
2. Structure and Organization
A work’s structure and organization can tell you a lot about the kind of message it
wants to convey. Some novels are narrated in a linear, chronological fashion, while others
skip around in time. Some plays follow a traditional three-or five-act structure, while others
are a series of loosely connected scenes. Some authors deliberately leave gaps in their
works, leaving readers to puzzle out the missing information.
3. Point of View
The perspective from which a story is told. In first-person point of view, the narrator
involves him or herself in the story. (“I went to the store”; “We watched in horror as the
bird slammed into the window.”) A first-person narrator is usually the protagonist of the
work, but not always. In third-person point of view, the narrator does not participate in the
story. A third-person narrator may closely follow a specific character, recounting that
individual character’s thoughts or experiences, or it may be what we call
an omniscient narrator. Omniscient narrators see and know all: they can witness any
event in any time or place and are privy to the inner thoughts and feelings of all characters.
4. Diction
Word choice is also considered in analyzing a text whether a character uses dry,
clinical language or flowery prose with lots of exclamation points can tell you a lot about
his or her attitude and personality.

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 5. Syntax
Word order and sentence construction. Syntax is a crucial part of establishing an
author’s narrative voice. Ernest Hemingway, for example, is known for writing in very short,
straightforward sentences, while James Joyce characteristically wrote in long, incredibly
complicated lines.
6. Tone
The mood or feeling of the text. Diction and syntax often contribute to the tone of
a work. A novel written in short, clipped sentences that use small, simple words might feel
brusque, cold, or matter-of-fact.
7. Imagery
Language that appeals to the senses, representing things that can be seen,
smelled, heard, tasted, or touched.
8. Figurative Language
Language is not meant to be interpreted literally. The most common types of
figurative language are metaphors and similes, which compare two unlike things in order
to suggest a similarity between them— for example, “All the world’s a stage,” or “The moon
is like a ball of green cheese.” (Metaphors say one thing is another thing; similes claim
that one thing is like another thing.)
Guide Questions asked in Formalist Approach
A. To which genre does the text belong?
B. What is the structure of the text? Is the structure appropriate to the genre of the text?
C. What can you say about the setting of the story?
D. Describe the characters/speaker of the text? What can you say about the characters’
actions and lines?
E. Briefly describe the plot of the text. What can you say about the turnout of events?
F. Are there any difficult words in the text?
G. What part of the plot shows the theme or lesson? Which part is the most important?
H. What figures of speech are used? (metaphors, similes, etc.)
I. Is there a relationship between the beginning and the end of the story?
J. What tone and mood are created at various parts of the work and the effect of the story?

II. Moralist Approach

The moralist or intellectual approach in literary criticism is concerned with essence and
values present in a text. The concern of this approach in criticism is not only to discover meaning
but also to determine whether works of literature are both true and significant. To study literature
from the moral/intellectual perspective is therefore to determine whether a work conveys a lesson
or message and whether it can help readers have better lives and improve their understanding of
the world.
Guide Questions Asked in Moralist Approach
A. What lesson does the story teach the readers?
B. What is the central idea of the story?
C. What event in the story shows the theme or lesson of the story?
D. Is the lesson of the story realistic and applicable in real life?
E. Is the story’s lesson correct and relevant to the society?
F. What reality in life is shown in the story?
G. Is the lesson of the story effectively conveyed to the target readers?

III. Feminist Approach

Feminist approach in literary criticism is concerned with the ways in which literature relates
the economic, political, social, and psychological roles of women in a generally-patriarchic society.
In this approach, the importance of women in the society is being underscored, thus playing a key
role in the literary text.
Guide Questions Asked in Feminist Approach.
A. How are women’s lives portrayed in the work?

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 B. How do male and female characters relate to one another? Are these relationships
sources of conflict? Are these conflicts resolved?
C. Does the work challenge or affirm traditional views of women?
D. Are there events in the story that show gender inequality or prejudices?
E. Are the actions and dialogue of the female character appropriate?
F. Have the other characters in the text treated the female ones justly?
G. If a female character were male, how would the story be different (and vice versa)?
H. How does the marital status of a character affect her decisions or happiness?

IV. Historical Approach

Historical criticism makes use of historical evidence and investigates the context in
which a literary work was written, including facts about the author’s life and the historical and
social circumstances of the time. This is in contrast to other types of criticism, such as textual and
formal, in which emphasis is placed on examining the text itself while outside influences on the
text are disregarded. In this approach, factors such as historical events, author’s real life
experiences, and backgrounders are used to understand certain aspects and the totality of the
text.
Guide Questions Asked Historical Approach
A. How does the text reflect the time in which the text was written?
B. How accurately does the story depict the time in which it is set?
C. What aspect of local culture is shown in the text?
D. What literary or historical influences helped to shape the form and content of the work?
E. How does the story reflect the attitudes and beliefs of the time in which it was written
or set?
F. What other literary works may have influenced the writer?
G. What historical events or movements might have influenced this writer?
H. Does the story reveal or contradict the prevailing values of the time in which it was
written?

What’s More
Let us practice your skills in literary criticism. Accomplish the following activities.
Good luck!

Activity 1: Identify what literary approach is described in each of the following items. Write FO
for Formalist, FE for Feminist, MO for Moralist, and HI for historical approach. Write your answers
on the space provided.

__________1. Takes a look at the significant roles of women in the society

__________2. Includes comment on choice of words and scope vocabulary
__________3. Analyzes the rhyme scheme of a sonnet
__________4. Relates the story to a significant real-life events
__________5. Discusses a value inculcated to the hearts and minds of the readers
__________6. Describes the kind of language used in a text
__________7. Stresses out an action of a character worthy of emulation
__________8. Points out an era essential in the achievement of author’s purpose in writing
__________9. Mentions the genre to which the text belongs
__________10. Glorifies feminine traits necessary to the development of the story

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Activity 2: The following are excerpts from various literary critiques. Identify what approach in
literary criticism is used in each of the following sentences.

__________1. Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman 1984 was more than just a gorgeous and
statuesque stunner. She radiated goodness, light, and hope in a way that was infectious, that
made you believe in the power of superheroes beyond facile platitudes about doing what’s
right and protecting mankind.”

__________2. “In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare employs several dramatic techniques that
have garnered praise from critics; most notably the abrupt shifts from comedy to tragedy.
Before Mercutio's death in Act three, the play is largely a comedy. After his accidental demise,
the play suddenly becomes serious and takes on a tragic tone.”

__________3. The feud is also linked to male virility, as the numerous jokes about
maidenheads aptly demonstrate.] Juliet also submits to a female code of docility by allowing
others, such as the Friar, to solve her problems for her.

__________4. Written in Spanish and published in 1887, José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere played
a crucial role in the political history of the Philippines. Drawing from experience, the
conventions of the nineteenth-century novel, and the ideals of European liberalism, Rizal
offered up a devastating critique of a society under Spanish colonial rule.

__________5. The short story “A Grain as Big as Hen’s Egg” deals with philosophy of ethics
and industry. It highlights the unlikely notion of coveting what is not yours and taking the fruits
of other’s labor.

Activity 3: Read the following literary pieces and answer the comprehension questions that
follow.

A. Laura
by Francesco Petrarch

She used to let her golden hair fly free

For the wind to toy and tangle and molest
Her eyes were brighter than the radian west
(Seldom they shine so now.) I used to see
Pity look out of those eyes on me.
(“It was false pity,” you would now protest)
I had love’s tinder heaped within my breast;
What wonder that the flame burned furiously?
She did not walk in any mortal way,
But with angelic prowess; when she spoke,
Unearthly voices sang in unison
She seemed divine among the dreary folk
Of earth. You say she is not so today?
Well, though the bow’s unbent, the wound bleeds on.

Questions:
1. To which type of poem does “Laura” belong? Explain why.
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

2. What words in the poem rhyme together? Is there a pattern of rhyming words?
_________________________________________________________________________

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_________________________________________________________________________

3. How does the speaker describe Laura? What words give you a picture of Laura’s physical
attributes?
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

4. What words in the poem are difficult to understand? Do these prevent you from
understanding the text?
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

5. Overall, what can you say about how the poem is written? Is it easy to understand? Defend
your answer.
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

B. Federigo’s Falcon
by Giovanni Boccaccio
Federigo, an exceptionally rich man, falls in love with Monna Giovanna, a woman of
nobility and beauty. Federigo buys Monna a lot of gifts and holds sumptuous banquets. His love
for Monna Giovanna goes to the ends of the world that he is willing to offer her everything just to
win her heart.
Federigo became very poor for having spent huge amount of money. However, Monna
married a much richer man and had a son, leaving Federigo’s heart in despair. As a result of
Federigo’s poverty, he moved from Florence to Campi. All he had was a few penny to sustain his
daily needs, a farm, and a falcon.
After Monna’s husband dies, she and her child go for a seasonal vacation to a country
estate near Federigo’s farm. Her son became friends with Federigo. One day, her son fell very ill.
The child tells his Monna saying, “I will feel better if you can arrange to have Federigo’s falcon be
mine”. Monna couldn’t utter a word of refusal. She gathered strength to go to Federigo’s abode.
As she reached his humble home, Federigo hastened to welcome her with a tasty meal.
He had no food in stock. As he finds a way to offer a meal to Monna, he realized he can have his
falcon roasted. Without having second thought, he had the falcon roasted.
Monna was pleased with the tasty meal. Later, she expressed the reason for her visit.
Monna asked Federigo if she could have his falcon for her son as he feels that he would get better
if he could have Federigo’s falcon become his.
Federigo was stunned and told he had the falcon roasted and Monna had just ate on it.
Monna didn’t believed at first until Federigo showed her the feathers and beak. Monna left and
after a few days, her son died.
Federigo’s brother told him to marry Monna but Federigo says Monna wouldn’t love a poor
man that he is. She never loved Federigo when he was rich much less now that he is poor. After
he was convinced by his brother, Federigo asked Monna’s hand for marriage. Monna realizes
that it is better to have a gentleman without riches than to have riches without a gentleman. Soon,
Federigo and Monna end up in marriage.

Questions:
1. Describe how Federigo is in love with Monna.
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

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2. What can you say about Monna’s act of rejecting Federigo and marrying a richer man?
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

3. Do you think Federigo’s love for Monna has changed over the time? Defend your answer.
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

4. Explain this quote from the story. “It is better to have a gentleman without riches than to have
riches without a gentleman.”
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

5. Do love stories similar to that of Federigo and Monna’s still exist nowadays? Defend your
answer.
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

C. Imagine
by John Lennon
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world, you
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Questions:
1. What does the title, “Imagine” mean?
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

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2. What is the author’s vision of a peaceful world? Give lines in the poem that proves your
answers.
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

3. According to song, what kind of world will it be if we all live in peace?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

4. What do you think is the author’s purpose of writing the song? What is his message?
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

5. Is text’s lesson/message applicable nowadays? Cite some current issues where the message
of the song applies.
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

D. Hunchback of Notre Dame

by Victor Hugo

During the 1482 Festival of Fools in Paris, Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame, is
elected the Pope of Fools for being the ugliest person in Paris. He is hoisted on a throne and
paraded around Paris by the jeering mob. Pierre Gringoire, a struggling poet and philosopher,
tries unsuccessfully to get the crowd to watch his play instead of the parade. Archdeacon Claude
Frollo appears and stops the parade and orders Quasimodo back to Notre Dame with him.
Looking for something to eat, Gringoire admires the graceful beauty of La Esmerelda, a gypsy
street dancer, and decides to follow her home. After rounding a corner, she is suddenly attacked
by Quasimodo and Frollo. Gringoire rushes to help her but is knocked out by Quasimodo as Frollo
runs away. The King's Archers, led by Phoebus de Chateaupers arrive just in time and capture
the hunchback. Later that night, a group of beggars and thieves are about to hang Gringoire when
La Esmerelda comes forward and offers to save his life by "marrying" him for four years only.
The next day, Quasimodo is put on trial and sentenced to two hours of torture in the Place
de Grève. He suffers both the pain of being stretched and pulled apart as well as being publicly
humiliated by the crowd of people, who hate him for his ugliness. He begs for water, but no one
answers his pleas until La Esmerelda comes forth and brings him something to drink. Nearby, a
recluse called Sister Gudule, screams at La Esmerelda for being a "gypsy child- thief" and blames
her for her daughter's kidnapping fifteen years earlier. A few months later, La Esmerelda is
dancing in front of Notre Dame and Phoebus calls her over to him. She has fallen in love with him
and blushes when he asks her to meet him later that night. Frollo watches them from the top of
Notre Dame and becomes insanely jealous of Phoebus. His obsessive lust for La Esmerelda has
made him renounce God and study alchemy and black magic. In his secret cell at Notre Dame,
he plans to trap La Esmerelda like a spider catching a fly with its web. Later that night he follows
Phoebus to his tryst with La Esmerelda and stabs Phoebus repeatedly. He escapes and La
Esmerelda is captured by the King's guard.
The next day, Quasimodo is put on trial and sentenced to two hours of torture in the Place
de Grève. He suffers both the pain of being stretched and pulled apart as well as being publicly
humiliated by the crowd of people, who hate him for his ugliness. He begs for water, but no one
answers his pleas until La Esmerelda comes forth and brings him something to drink. Nearby, a
recluse called Sister Gudule, screams at La Esmerelda for being a "gypsy child- thief" and blames
her for her daughter's kidnapping fifteen years earlier. A few months later, La Esmerelda is

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 dancing in front of Notre Dame and Phoebus calls her over to him. She has fallen in love with him
and blushes when he asks her to meet him later that night. Frollo watches them from the top of
Notre Dame and becomes insanely jealous of Phoebus. His obsessive lust for La Esmerelda has
made him renounce God and study alchemy and black magic. In his secret cell at Notre Dame,
he plans to trap La Esmerelda like a spider catching a fly with its web. Later that night he follows
Phoebus to his tryst with La Esmerelda and stabs Phoebus repeatedly. He escapes and La
Esmerelda is captured by the King's guard.
La Esmerelda is safe from execution just as long as she stays inside the cathedral. At first, she
finds it hard to even look at Quasimodo, but they form an uneasy friendship. Even though he is
deaf, he enjoys being around her when she sings. Meanwhile, a group of vagabonds resolves to
save La Esmerelda after hearing that Parliament has ordered that she be removed from Notre
Dame. But when Quasimodo sees them attack the cathedral, he thinks they have come to kill La
Esmerelda and he fends them off as best he can, killing a large number of them. Frollo has used
the attack as a diversion to sneak La Esmerelda out of the cathedral. He offers her two choices:
she can either say she loves him or be hanged. She demands to be executed and he leaves her
with Sister Gudule. To their astonishment, they discover that they are mother and daughter.
Gudule tries to protect La Esmerelda, but it is too late. Back at Notre Dame, Quasimodo goes to
the top of the north tower to find her. Gazing off into the distance, he sees the figure of La
Esmerelda in a white dress hanging from the scaffold. He bellows out in despair and grabs Frollo
by the neck. Holding him up in the air, Quasimodo sighs with grief and then throws Frollo down
to his death. Looking at La Esmerelda hanging off in the distance and Frollo's wrangled corpse
down below, Quasimodo cries out: "There is everything I ever loved!" Quasimodo is never seen
again. Years later when a gravedigger stumbles across La Esmerelda's remains, he finds the
skeleton of a hunchback curled around her.

Questions:
1. Where and when did the story happen? Is the setting of the story realistic?
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

2. What is Festival of Fools in Paris? Was this tradition realistic?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

3. What does the story tell about the people of Paris back then? Defend your answer.
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

4. What customs and traditions portrayed in the story are no longer practiced nowadays? What
are their counterparts?
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

What I have Learned

Place the words in the box to the approach where they are associated with. Write the letters
of your answers inside the circles.

A. Genre B. Ethics C. Language D. Women

E. History F. Customs G. Diction H. Era
I. Lesson J. Gender Equality K. Values L. Feminism

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 Formalist Feminist Moralist Historical
Approach Approach Approach Approach

What I Can Do

Using the guide questions and the comprehension questions that you have answered in
the previous activities, write a simple critique or analysis paper of the following literary work using
the indicated approach. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Literary Pieces Approach

1. Laura Formalist

2. Federigo’s Falcon Feminist

3. Imagine Moralist

4. Hunchback of Notre Dame Historical

Assessment
Encircle the letters of your answer.

1. A ____________ is a type of writing that critically evaluates a piece of literary work in detail.
A. literary feature B. literary critique
C. literary research D. literary development

2. “Literary analysis involves examining all the parts of a literary piece and thinking about how the
author uses those elements to create certain effects.” The statement is ___________.

A. True B. False C. Uncertain D. Improbable

3. Which is NOT a literary analysis?

A. a type of writing that critically evaluates a piece of literary work in detail
B. a critical essay, an article evaluating a literary piece, or a review
C. a summary that identifies the central issue of a text
D. a write up that points out the flaws and mistakes of a literary piece

4. “(I) Approaches in literary criticism are like lenses that critics use to view and analyze the literary
piece. (II) These lenses allow critics to study works of art based from assumptions innate to the
particular approach.” What can you say about the two statements?
A. Statements I and II are both true. B. Statements I and II are both false.
C. Statement I is true but II is false. D. Statement I is false but II is true.

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5. Formalist approach looks at the following except ___________.
A. genre of the text B. structure
C. history of the place D. imagery

6. Which approach in literary criticism sees the work as the work itself excluding all outside factors
such as author’s life, history, background, etc.?
A. Formalist B. Feminist C. Historical D. Moralist

7. The female character’s essential role in the development of the literary piece is highlighted in
which approach in literary criticism?
A. Formalist B. Feminist C. Historical D. Moralist

8. Moralist approach in literary criticism focuses on the story’s __________.

A. structure B. elements C. language D. life lesson

9. Complete the analogy: Historical Approach: Background of the Story ; Formalist :________.
A. Women Empowerment B. Life Lessons and Values
C. Text Structure D. Real Life Experiences

10. Which of the following questions is asked in critiquing a text using formalist approach?
A. What lesson in the story is applicable in real life?
B. What female characteristic is highlighted in the story?
C. Is the language used in the text clear?
D. In what year was the story written?

Additional Activity

Free Writing. Choose a literary piece that you have previously read. Make a simple and
independent critique or analysis of the literary piece. Place your critique on a separate sheet of
paper.

You made it! Congratulations! Continue practicing your learnings in the lesson to further
hone your skills.

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What I Know /Assessment What I have Learned
1. B Formalist- A, C, G
2. A Feminist- D, J, L
3. D Moralist- B, I, K
4. A Historical- E, F, H
5. C
6. A
7. B What I can Do
8. D Answers Vary
9. C
10. C
What’s New
1. APPROACHES
2. CRITICISM
3. LESSON
4. BACKGROUND
5. STRUCTURE
6. FEMINISM
What’s More
Activity 1
1. FE
2. FO
3. FO
4. HI
5. MO
6. FO
7. MO
8. HI
9. FO
10 FE
Activity 2
1. FEMINIST
2. FORMALIST
3. FEMINIST
4. HISTORIACL
5. MORALIST
Activity 3
Answers vary.
Key to Corrections