By Eves & Jevie

What It MeansHistorical/Biographical criticism evaluates

literature as a reflection upon the author’s life and times (also/or the characters’ life and times). This method stresses the influence of the author’s background and the political, economical, and sociological context of her time as crucial to understanding the meaning of her works.

As opposed to other methods, historical/biographical places more emphasis on outside influences on the text than on the text itself.

How It’s Used

In History or English

To understand the author’s work, as well as their intent, and how their life and personal history may have influenced it

For a fun, fun, fun way to spend ones time

The Good, the Bad, and the BoringAdvantages DisadvantagesWorks well for some

works that are obviously political or semi-autobiographical in nature

Places allusions in their proper classical, political, or biblical background

It assumes that there is a direct connection between the author’s personal experiences and their works

Reduces art to the level of biographies and historical accounts

Makes the work relative to the times and author rather than universal

Induces an “intentional fallacy”—the belief that a work’s meaning or value is determined by the author’s intention

Huh? Types of Questions AskedIs this text an

extension of the author’s position on issues in the author’s life?

How are events in the novel similar to major events in the author’s time period?

How did the time period influence the style and plot?

How does the text reflect the author’s life?

How is the main character similar to the author?

How are the events in the novel similar to events that happened in the author’s life?

Is the setting similar to the author’s home?

You’ve Actually Done this BeforeHistorical Example Biographical Example

The Crucible, Arthur MillerSalem witch trials of 1692

and McCarthyism/House Un-American Committee persecution (1950s)

Communism and witchcraft

Unjust accusation and treatment by people of power with little justification

To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee

Atticus Finch strongly resembles Lee’s father, Amasa Coleman Lee

1919 Amasa defended 2 black men accused of murder

Lee’s brother Edwin is 4 years older than her, just as Jem is to Scout

You’ve Probably Not Done This BeforeHistorical Example Biographical Example

Oliver Twist, Charles DickensThe story of child laborer

Robert Blincoe was widely read in the 1830s, when Oliver Twist was published (1838)

Direct contextual reference to what the author viewed as social evils of the time

Focuses on a major social/political/economical issue (poverty)

Age of Innocence, Edith WhartonWharton makes constant

parallels between her character Newland Archer and her real-life lover, Walter Berry

The society and locales in the novel are strikingly similar to Wharton’s childhood

Disdain for New York traditions expressed in the novel resemble Wharton’s own feelings

Sites Citedhttp://www.cla.purdue.edu/blackmon/engl360k/cri

tical.htmlhttp://www.york.ac.uk/res/researchintegration/

Integrative_Research_Methods/Apitzsch%20Biographical%20Analysis%20April%202007.pdf

http://home.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/200/litcrit.htmlhttp://eolit.hrw.com/hlla/litelem/histbiochart.pdf http://www.literatureclassics.com/ancientpaths/

litcrit.html