BASI C APPROACHES
TO LI TERARY I NTERPRETATI ON
I . The Theory of I mitation
This theory sees literature as a w ay of reproducing or recreating the experiences of life in w ords. I t w as originated from w hat Plato and Aristotle said about literature. Plato describes literature as imitations removed from reality. I t is life w hich literature imitates or mirrors. I t is being imitated in the sense of being interpret ed or recreat ed.
I I . The Theory of Effect = pragmat ic = affective
The emphasis here is on t he effect that lit erature may have on its readers. The interest of its analysis is in t he psychological experience of the audience. For example, Aristotle believed that t here is a kind of purging effect , the purging of pity and fear, w hich the audience undergoes in the course of a tragedy. I t is also believed that t he major aim of literat ure is to move the audience, to arouse a strong emotional response and finally t o give pleasure.
I I I . The Theory of Expression
dramatist, or novelist. The theory focuses on t he psychology of the artist . We may analyze t he background of t he w riter, his feeling and w ay of thinking relat ed to the w ork.
I V. The I dea of Fictionality
I t suggests analyzing w hat happens w ithin a literary w ork. I t is believed that t he characters in literary w orks are not moving in the real w orld but in a fictional w orld of their ow n.
This concept is a useful w ay of distinguishing literature from act uality and the real w orld of experience.
V. The I dea of Structure
