Definition Historical Criticism is the reflection of the author’s life through the author’s works.
Background Information • Dates back to the 19 th century • Historical Criticism helps to understand historical determinants of meaning in a poem or other literary work Questions that it answers: • What was going on in the world during the author’s lifetime? • What time period does the literature relate to?
Pros Using this technique allows you to better comprehend the author’s life experiences and what inspired them to write a piece of literature. For example, by knowing that the poet Milton was blind, you can understand his poem “On His Blindness. ”
Cons The interpretation is only based on the author, and so reflections tend to be more biographical as supposed to imaginative.
Criticism of “Passport” Mahmoud Darwish was a Palestinian political advocate against the Israelis. He was sent into exile in Lebanon by Israel. “Passport” shows his anger towards Israel forcing him into exile. “On soil I nourished with my own hands? ” (Darwish) “Stripped of my name and identity? ” (Darwish) “That suck away my color in this Passport” (Darwish)
Works Cited Mc. Manus, Barbara F. "New Historicism. " Notes. N. p. , 1998. Web. 23 Apr. 2010. "Traditional Historicism. " Approaches to Reading and Interpretation. N. p. , n. d. Web. 23 Apr. 2010.