📖

What is Literary Criticism?

Literary Criticism Basics

Day 151of 180
Week 31of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand the basic concept of literary criticism

2

Distinguish between personal opinion and critical analysis

3

Learn to evaluate literature thoughtfully

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 15:14

“The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.”

— Proverbs 15:14 (WEB)

Demonstrates the importance of seeking understanding and thoughtful evaluation

📦 Materials Needed

  • Notebook
  • Pencil
  • Sample book pages
  • Evaluation worksheet
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Introduce the concept of literary criticism as a way of carefully thinking about books and stories. Ask students what they think it means to criticize a book.

💭 Review Question: What makes a good story interesting to you?
2Teaching (10 min)

Literary criticism is more than just saying whether you like or dislike a book. It's about carefully examining the book's strengths, weaknesses, and deeper meanings.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Literary criticism looks at how a story is constructed
  • It considers characters, plot, writing style, and themes
  • Good criticism helps us understand books more deeply
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How is literary criticism different from just saying 'I liked the book'?
  • What makes a book good or meaningful?
  • How can we think about books more carefully?
3Activity: Book Detective Worksheet (10 min)
hands-on

Students will practice basic literary criticism by examining a short passage from a book

📝 Instructions:
  1. Read a short book excerpt
  2. Identify the main characters
  3. Note the writing style
  4. Write three observations about the passage
  5. Share observations with a partner
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use a shorter passage with simpler language

Challenge: Analyze multiple passages and compare them

4Closing (5 min)

Recap the key ideas of literary criticism and how it helps us understand stories better

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about literary criticism today?
  • Why is it important to think carefully about what we read?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us to be thoughtful readers who seek understanding and wisdom in the books we read.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn more about how to evaluate the quality of literature

💎 Memory Verse

Philippians 4:8

“Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.”

— Philippians 4:8 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Create a poster highlighting the qualities mentioned in the verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Literary criticism helps children develop critical thinking skills and deeper reading comprehension

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage curiosity about books
  • Ask open-ended questions about reading
  • Model thoughtful book discussions
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it challenging to look beyond surface-level likes and dislikes

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to make specific observations about a text beyond personal preference

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a reading journal for tracking book observations
  • Practice literary criticism with family reading time
  • Watch a movie adaptation and compare it to the original book

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 152 →Back to Literature