Critical approaches to literature

One of the key things that makes for a successful A Level English Lit answer is the sense that you have personally engaged with the text, that it has affected your own perspective.

At the same time however, you need to show awareness that others have come to the work from a different angle – the interpretations of other readers mentioned in Assessment Objective 3.

At this level, you don’t want to get too bogged down with analysing critical approaches, but you do need to grasp the main ideas involved.

Crossref-it.info has an easy to understand introduction to the main ways in which critics have interpreted texts, particularly how these interpretations have developed over the last 30 years. Individual text guides contain sections dealing with critical approaches that arise out of the specific work, but it you want a useful overview, try exploring the various pages in the Critical approaches to literature section.

Your job is then to note down how each approach might affect the way you engage with the text you are studying and ask:

• Does it help you understand the text in a new way?
• Do you agree with this sort of interpretation?
• Does it change your personal perspective?
  

Remember, the examiner wants to know that you have thought for yourself, but can support each of your views with evidence.