Psychology and Literary Criticism

Psychology (the science or study of mind and its processes) can be used to help a literary critic or a literary researcher to explain, interpret and evaluate literary works.

The psychology of author, the habits of author in revising and rewriting his draft, the genesis of the work of art are examples of psychologycal studies towards a writer.

One should know that a draft of a novel can sometimes be rejected by a publisher and author should do revision and even a significant change in the story and character of the novel.

Another contribution of psychology towards literary criticism is related to the character and characterization. Psychology can explain why a certain character in the novel becomes bad, good, frustrated, illuminated, or killed by someone.

Like the real people, characters in the novel have qualities or personalities; personalities can remain the same trough time (flat) and they may change (round, dynamic). In relation to this matter, psychology discusses much in psychology of personality. There is also a branch of psychology that deals with abnormality and hidden drives.

Admin 09 February 2016 Literary