Biographical

Criticism
 This approach "begins with the simple
but central insight that literature is written
by actual people and that understanding
an author's life can help readers more
thoroughly comprehend the work." Hence,
it often affords a practical method by
which readers can better understand a
text.
 However, a biographical critic must be
careful not to take the biographical facts of
writer's life too far in criticizing the works of
that writer: the biographical critic "focuses
on explicating the literary work by using
the insight provided by knowledge of the
author's life.... [B]iographical data should
amplify the meaning of the text, not drown
it out with irrelevant material."
Examines the relevance of a writers life
and identity to the work.
Assumes there is a relationship between a
writers life and the literary work.
Does biographical knowledge actually
enrich our understanding of the literature.
What does the literary work say about
the author?
 How Common is
Biographical Context in
Writing?
All* authors write in a biographical context

The goal of a biographical criticism is

understanding why the author wrote what he
or she wrote
how biographical circumstances contributed to
the creation of parts of the text
biographical readings often resemble non-
theoretical psychological readings

*debatable by those outside this theory

 Influences on Biographical
Context
Ideology: a system of beliefs that governs a
groups actions, its view of reality, and its
assumptions about what is normal and
natural. Ideology can be communicated by
discourse.
Some authors ideologically agree with the power
elites of society (agree with the societal norm)
Other authors ideologically disagree with the
power elite (want to initiate change)
Life experiences often influence their ideologies.
Important Questions for
Biographical Criticism
Understanding the Author:
What facts about the authors life suggest ideas
in the work? Did anything that happened to the
author effect his or her themes or choice of
subject matter?
What was/is the authors world view? Which of
the authors beliefs seem reflected in their story?
What commentary on the story did the author
make? Does it point to ideas in the story?
Important Questions
Understanding the Authors World*:
What world view was typical of the authors time?
What aspects of this world view seem prevalent in
this story or character? Does the author seem to
accept or rebel against this world view?
How did people respond to the authors works and
life?
What ideas did people find in the authors works
and life?

*Often paired with Historical Theory for this reason

Adding Perspective
The social structure or way of life of the
authors time period gives greater depth
from which to draw conclusions and better
understand the story.

Discovering details about the authors life

and times also provides a way to further
develop ideas about interpreting the story.
NOT A BIOGRAPHY
A biography analyzes an authors life
Biographical criticism analyzes a TEXT using
details from the authors life THE TEXT IS
ALWAYS CENTRAL
If an aspect of an authors life does not
logically fit into the text, discard it again
text is the focus
Details about the author are meant to enhance not
necessarily create our understanding of the text
Biographical Criticism Checklist of
Questions
1. What influences persons, ideas, movements, events evident in
the writers life does the work reflect?
2. To what extent are the events described in the work a direct transfer
of what happened in the authors actual life?
3. What modifications of the actual events has the writer made in the
literary work? For what possible purposes?
4. Why might the writer have altered his or her actual experience in
the literary work?
5. What are the effects of the differences between actual events and
their literary transformation in the work?
6. What has the author revealed in the work about his or her
characteristic modes of thought, perceptions, or emotion? What
place does the work have in the authors literary development and
career?
Sources
http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/106643/Critical-Perspectives-
Biographical-Criticism-Final-Submission
www.cedarville.edu/departments/writingcenter/.../litanalysis.ppt
DiYanni, Robert. Literature Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 2nd ed.
Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008. Print.
 Reporters:

Olga Mare Barredo

Joshua Gabrillo