Critical Perspectives — Drills · Grade 12 English
Chapter: Close Reading & Literary AnalysisWhat these drills covers
By the end of Critical Perspectives you should be able to:
- I can read a single text through different critical lenses — historical, feminist, Marxist, psychoanalytic, archetypal — and support each reading with evidence.
- I can explain how a rich text sustains multiple valid interpretations at once, and what each lens reveals and conceals.
2 questions, written answer, each with a worked explanation.
Vocabulary used: critical lens, historical criticism, feminist criticism, Marxist criticism, psychoanalytic criticism, archetypal criticism.
Problem 1
Answer and explanation
A critical perspective is a set of questions used to interpret a text. Formal analysis focuses on craft; a historical lens examines context; social perspectives examine power, access, or representation. Show an actual application before considering the method recalled.
Use the criteria to compare your reasoning, not to copy the model’s wording. A supported alternative interpretation may earn full credit.
Response criteria
- Make an accurate, focused claim or revision.
- Use a relevant detail or a clearly explained language choice.
- Explain the relationship and recognize a relevant limit.
Problem 2
Answer and explanation
Use conflicting details to test or qualify the interpretation. A critical method should enable inquiry, not suppress contrary evidence.
Use the criteria to compare your reasoning, not to copy the model’s wording. A supported alternative interpretation may earn full credit.
Response criteria
- Make an accurate, focused claim or revision.
- Use a relevant detail or a clearly explained language choice.
- Explain the relationship and recognize a relevant limit.