Trends and Approaches in Literary Research – UGC NET – Notes

Approaches in Literary Research

Literary Research is the scholarly and critical study of one or more literary texts for the purpose of analysis. To understand the possible approaches to literary research, we may look at the diagram made by M.H. Abrams, which illustrates the connections between the literary work (text) and three important coordinates that intersect with it: the artist (author) of the text, the audience (reader) of the text, and the universe (context) in which the text is situated.

Based on this diagrammatic representation, there can be four approaches to literary research:

• Author-focused

• Text-focused

• Reader-focused

• Context-focused

When we undertake research on one or more literary works, we select our research methodology from these four possible approaches. The chosen research methodology provides us with critical concepts, appropriate vocabulary, and a relevant theoretical framework to address and answer specific research questions.

Abrams’ diagram establishes an interrelationship between the work, artist, audience, and universe. Therefore, the four approaches to literary research are themselves interlinked. Employing one approach does not exclude reference to—or even integration of—the other approaches, as literary analysis often benefits from a combined or complementary perspective.