New Historicism
In the 1980s, a group of literary critics began to read literature in a new way. They wanted to consider two things as they read a text:
1) the historical, political, social, and cultural atmosphere in which the author was writing the text.
2) the historical, political, social, and cultural atmosphere in which the reader is reading the text.
Essentially New Historicism calls for the reader to analyze the CONTEXT in which the text was written and the CONTEXT in which it is being read. Considering both of these elements will change the way you analyze a text. We have already discussed four methods we will use to analyze The Great Gatsby, but you all will also use the historical context to help you analyze the novel. This is called New Historicism. Review this site and note at least three of the questions to ask as you read from this perspective.
1) the historical, political, social, and cultural atmosphere in which the author was writing the text.
2) the historical, political, social, and cultural atmosphere in which the reader is reading the text.
Essentially New Historicism calls for the reader to analyze the CONTEXT in which the text was written and the CONTEXT in which it is being read. Considering both of these elements will change the way you analyze a text. We have already discussed four methods we will use to analyze The Great Gatsby, but you all will also use the historical context to help you analyze the novel. This is called New Historicism. Review this site and note at least three of the questions to ask as you read from this perspective.