Historical Lens Criticism

Historical Criticism
Goal: Explain the content of literature based on _______________________________________ in which it was written.
Historical critics look at politics, ideas, culture, how people lived, etc. when analyzing literature. Pros and Cons of Historical Criticism
Pros
● The historical lens is an accurate way to view history because people
___________________________
their thoughts and ideas through lit.
● These views can be ___________ or
_____________.

Cons
Some people say that the great pieces of literature do not need to be understood through a historical lens because their greatness is derived from a timeless, universal theme. The Historical Lens works in
TWO DIRECTIONS. Not only can we interpret literature from a historical background, but literature can help us understand history based on the time it was written. Kilroy example: List two ways the excerpt from “Kilroy” shows the author/United States’s opinion on the Vietnam war.
1. ________________________________________________________________________
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2. ________________________________________________________________________
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Historical Lens from the
Lorax
: The Lorax was published in 1971. In 1970 there was a big push for the government to implement laws that will protect the environment. Dr. Seuss took issues from one great lake. What lake was it, and what is the quote used to prove this?_____________ ______________________________________________________________________________
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