When I read a text, I take what the author is saying at face value. My beliefs are kept separate from an opinion espoused in any literary work and I interpret it free of bias or preconceived notions because I do not believe that I have to recognize my beliefs in a literary work for it to have merit. Alternatively, interpreting a literary work from an idealistic point of view, is it not merely reiterating what the author wrote and assuming you know what the author meant? I agree with Knapp and Michaels who wrote, "a true account of something is the difference between theory and the kind of pragmatist argument. . . .A belief about the nature of beliefs is inconsequential because it merely tells you what beliefs are, not whether they are true or false in particular or general." (Cain, et al, p. 2505)
One must take into consideration the historical events surrounding a literary work. One must also ask when reading/interpreting a work what are any social norms/historical references personified/accepted/rejected? Why? (Remember, what you think is not relevant, only the message the author is conveying is relevant, as it pertain to the work. If you intend to judge the work and/or look at it from an emotional point of view instead of looking at it logically, the text loses its meaning concerning the author's point of view.) One must read a text applying logic and reason. Meaning, you must ask yourself, why did the author feel this way? What made the author feel this way? What was occurring in the author's society at the time of the author writing the literary work?
The purpose of reading in this manner is to be able to grasp the author's intent and leaving out of it any judgment. In order to critique a literary work fairly, ask yourself,
- Who is the author? (Male/Female? - How does this affect their writing? What stance is being taken?)
- Where did he/she live - America/France/England, elsewhere?
- In what year(s) did the person live/write?
- What was the environment like in which the author lived/wrote?
- How was the author affected by their environment/the era in which he/she lived and what were the social customs/norms and the political environment? (How does this affect their writing?)
- What is the MAIN POINT? WHY is it important?
Knowing a bit of the author's backstory, such as what influenced the writing, the argument being made, and any constraints affecting the writer helps to determine the point of view.
(To enhance understanding, in what way does this relate to anything seen in the media today? How?)
(To enhance understanding, in what way does this relate to anything seen in the media today? How?)
Source: Cain, Finke, Johnson, Leitch, McGowan, Sharpley-Whiting, and Williams. The Norton Anthology of Theory & Criticism. 2nd Ed. Published by WW Norton and Company, New York/London. 2010.