Lens Analysis: Literature Interpretation Literature can be viewed through various lenses as a way to see writing through a different viewpoint. The new historical lens is used to view writing through another time period while comparing it to the period the book was written. This lens can be interpreted as a way to “think about the retelling of history itself” (Brizee). It focuses on aspects like what language or events in the writing reflect the time period of the author (Brizee). The new historical lens is used to better understand the purpose behind actions and writing styles in different books by relating the books events to the time period the author was writing. This lens also may bring up questions like how have the words in the text
…show more content…
It helps teach the other reader a more personalized interpretation of historical events that have happened in the past. It also helps link the reader with current events with different occasions that have taken place in the past. In Tim Gillespie’s article about Historical Criticism for Students he states, “Any novel… located in a specific time period is likely to be more meaningful if the reader knows something about its historical context” (Gillespie 36). The downfall, however, is that reading a book through this lens restricts a reader from seeing other interpretations of the book. For example, one might not notice the psychological issues going on with the characters because he or she is so limited to learning about the history of the time period the book takes place. Altogether, this lens swirls the aspects of history and learning into one experience, expanding the reader's understanding of the book. It is especially helpful to use while reading the book To Kill A Mockingbird because it helps relate the horrific times of the great depression and the civil rights movement taking place while the author was writing. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel written in 1960 yet set in the 1930s. This book …show more content…
This novel portrays the good, bad, and in-between of love, friendships, life. At the beginning of the story, the main character Janie, a middle aged woman, is running up to her old house in dirty, ragged clothes and messy hair. The whole town starts to murmur about what could have possibly happened to her while she was gone for the many years. The story then takes us back to when she was a child, and the novel is telling the story of how she ended up running back to her old home and what happened in the meantime. Her grandmother had a completely offset view of love compared to Janie’s idea of love. Her grandmother convinced her to marry into success and one would fall in love after marriage. After trying this a few times, janie began to realize her view of marriage was completely different than her grandmother’s view on marriage and love. The reader's response lens allows the reader to make interpretations on any situation in the writing freely. A lot of this novel was based on love and relationships. I interpreted Janie’s views on relationships as the novel went on. She began to learn that you must fall for a person’s ideals, beliefs and personality before you can like them for their future and success. This was completely opposite of what her grandmother, Nannie, had always pushed her to believe. Janie learned in her
It helps teach the other reader a more personalized interpretation of historical events that have happened in the past. It also helps link the reader with current events with different occasions that have taken place in the past. In Tim Gillespie’s article about Historical Criticism for Students he states, “Any novel… located in a specific time period is likely to be more meaningful if the reader knows something about its historical context” (Gillespie 36). The downfall, however, is that reading a book through this lens restricts a reader from seeing other interpretations of the book. For example, one might not notice the psychological issues going on with the characters because he or she is so limited to learning about the history of the time period the book takes place. Altogether, this lens swirls the aspects of history and learning into one experience, expanding the reader's understanding of the book. It is especially helpful to use while reading the book To Kill A Mockingbird because it helps relate the horrific times of the great depression and the civil rights movement taking place while the author was writing. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel written in 1960 yet set in the 1930s. This book …show more content…
This novel portrays the good, bad, and in-between of love, friendships, life. At the beginning of the story, the main character Janie, a middle aged woman, is running up to her old house in dirty, ragged clothes and messy hair. The whole town starts to murmur about what could have possibly happened to her while she was gone for the many years. The story then takes us back to when she was a child, and the novel is telling the story of how she ended up running back to her old home and what happened in the meantime. Her grandmother had a completely offset view of love compared to Janie’s idea of love. Her grandmother convinced her to marry into success and one would fall in love after marriage. After trying this a few times, janie began to realize her view of marriage was completely different than her grandmother’s view on marriage and love. The reader's response lens allows the reader to make interpretations on any situation in the writing freely. A lot of this novel was based on love and relationships. I interpreted Janie’s views on relationships as the novel went on. She began to learn that you must fall for a person’s ideals, beliefs and personality before you can like them for their future and success. This was completely opposite of what her grandmother, Nannie, had always pushed her to believe. Janie learned in her