Literary Lenses A Review The New Historicist Lens

Literary Lenses

A Review The New Historicist Lens

The New Historicist Lens • The New Historicist lens views a literary text as closely related to time period in which the author wrote the work of literature. • It believes that literature is a product of the time, place, and values of the era in which it was written. • The New Historicist lens also believes that people are subjective interpreters of what they observe. • Questions: • How does a work of literature reflect its historical and sociocultural context? • How does a work of literature comment on its historical era? • What events are present in the work of literature and how are they interpreted?

The Feminist Lens

The Feminist Lens • The feminist lens views society in patriarchal ( maledominated) ways. • It looks at the stereotypical representation of both men and women in works of literature. • There are different waves of feminism in literature; The Awakening is considered part of the First Wave of Feminism (late 1700’s-early 1900’s). • Questions: • How are the relationships between men and women portrayed? • How are male and female roles defined? • How do characters embody masculine and feminine traits?

The Marxist/Social Class Lens

Social Class / Marxist Lens • The Marxist Lens views society based on economics and social class. • Often, there is a power struggle: rich vs. poor; owner vs. worker • The Marxist lens sees literature as an ideological reflection of the real world. • Questions: • What role does power, money, or social class play in the work of literature? • What is the social class of the author? • What is the social class of the characters? • How do characters from different classes interact with each other?

Now. . . • From what you have read thus far, what information can a reader learn about the events and characters in To Kill a Mockingbird by using these lenses? • Group 1: New Historicist • Group 2: Feminist • Group 3: Social Class/Marxist • For each, find 2 -3 examples from text that illustrate how using the lens you have been assigned helps you better understand these events/characters better. • Create a general statement that explains how your lens is used in To Kill a Mockingbird. Be ready to share with the class.