Psychoanalytic criticism views literary works as reflections of authors' unconscious desires and psychologies. It originated from Carl Jung applying Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theories to literature. Psychoanalytic criticism analyzes characters and narratives in terms of Freud's concepts of the id, ego, and superego. Critics believe this approach can provide deeper understanding of works by revealing unconscious meanings and motivations. Psychoanalytic criticism remains influential today.

6. The Beginning of Psychoanalytic Criticism
Psychoanalytic criticism
Views the themes, conflicts, and characterizations of a work primarily as a
reflection of the needs, emotions, states of mind, or subconscious desires of the
author.
Creator of Psychoanalytic Literary Criticism
Carl Jung, student of Sigmund Freud.
Started the concept of psychoanalysis.
Connected Freud's analysis of people, to characters from literature.
Psychoanalytic Criticism or Jungian Criticism began in the 1930’s and continues to
this day and age.

7. Origins and Purpose
Psychoanalysis
Created by Sigmund Freud, author of The Structure Model of Personality.
Psychoanalysis is based on the three parts of our personalities;
ID, Superego, and Ego.
When used to analyze actions of literary characters is called Psychoanalytic Criticism.
Critics Believe
We can read psychoanalytically to see which concepts are operating in the text in
such a way as to enrich our understanding of the work.
If we plan to write a paper about it, to yield a meaningful, coherent psychoanalytic
interpretation.

8. Known as the “Pleasure Principle”
We are born with it
Part of the personality that contains our primitive impulses.
Thirst, hunger, anger, desire for gratification
Represented as the Devil sitting on our shoulder.
Tells the ego to base behavior on self pleasure.
“ID”

9. Represents the conscience, moral side of us.
Develops by the moral and ethical restraints given by our caregivers.
Belief of right and wrong.
Represented by the Angel sitting on our shoulder.
Tells the Ego how to behavior based on society standards.
“Superego”

10. Ego
The balance between impulses (ID) and our conscience (Superego).
Based on the reality principle.
Understands that others have needs and desires.
Knows that being impulsive and selfish can hurt us in the end.
Job is to meet the ID needs while taking into consideration the
reality of the situation.
Represented by the person.

11. Recognizing Psychoanalytic
How could someone recognize psychoanalytic criticism in music? Remember TREAT.
Transference
The character relates current situation to past events.
The character struggles with relationships due to past failures.Resistance
The character resists self exploration.
The character suffers from severe emotional distress.Emotions
Look for emotions (happiness, sadness, anger, etc.) present in the
characters.
Listen to the tone of the music. How does it affect your emotions?Attachments
Is a bond created between a character and a role model?
The character is completely dependant on someone or something else.Trauma
The character experiences a severe shock to their system.

12. Recap / Conclusion
Where did psychoanalysis come from?
Why do we need psychoanalysis?
What’s the difference between ID and Superego.
What is ego?
What does TREAT represent and why do we need it?
The world would be a much different place if we could not analyze arts and literature from
an emotional perspective.

13. Works Cited
“LitCrit.” LitCrit. Web. 9 Oct. 2015. <http://hhh.gavilan.edu/kwarren/litcrit.html>
“Psychoanalytic Theory &Amp; Approaches.” Psychoanalytic Theory &amp; Approaches. Web. 9 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.apsa.org/content/psychoanalytic-theory-approaches>
Shmoop Editorial Team. “Psychoanalysis.” Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., Nov. 2008. Web. 9 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.shmoop.com/psychoanalysis/>
“Welcome To the Purdue OWL.” Purdue OWL: Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism. Web. 9 Oct. 2015.
<https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/722/04/>
PDF- http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson800/psychoanalysis.pdf