Psychoanalytic criticism analyzes literary works through the lens of Sigmund Freud's theories about the id, ego, and superego and how unconscious desires and anxieties shape a work. It posits that an author's own life experiences, including childhood, unconsciously influence their writing. Psychoanalytic critics examine characters and symbols in a text for what they might reveal about the inner psyche and secret desires of the author. It differs from biographical criticism in focusing more on the author's inner life than outer biography, and from reader-response criticism by prioritizing the author's perspective over the reader's interpretation. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein can be analyzed psychoanalytically by examining Victor's dreams and lack of strong

1. Psychoanalytic Criticism
Hannah Meyer

2. What is psychoanalytic criticism?
• Sigmund Freud
▫ Id, ego, superego
• The authors own childhood effects the book and
characters
▫ Past experiences
• Literary texts express the secret desires and
anxieties of the author
▫ Like dreams

3. Compare
Psychoanalytic criticism Biographical criticism
• the authors own • Understanding an
life effects the way author’s life can
he or she writes help readers more
and displays it thoroughly
through a comprehend the
character or literary work
symbol

4. Contrast
Psychoanalytic Criticism Reader-Response Criticism
• More about the • Literature has no
author’s life than fixed-single meaning
the reader’s life • It means what the
reader interprets it as
• Looking through
• Looking through
the author’s point reader’s (your own)
of view point of view

5. Apply it:
Frankenstein
-victors dreams
-absence of a
strong feminine
figure
-trouble finding balance
between ego and id
-becomes
overwhelmed in
Page 39 and page 57
success
-removes himself from

6. Evaluation
• Psychoanalytic criticism can be used to evaluate
literature
• Better understanding of the author or book
• Unique and in-depth way of writing
• Definitely needs to be taught
▫ Makes the reader use critical thinking while
reading
▫ Interesting way of writing and interesting to read

7. Works Cited
Delahoyde, Michael. “Psychoanalytic Criticism.” Introduction to Literature.
Washington State University. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.
McManus, Barbara. “Psychoanalytic Approaches.” The College of New Rochelle. Oct. 1998. Web. 11
Dec. 2012
Paul Patterson, Arthur. “What sources influenced Mary Shelley in Crafting her story?” Watershed
Online. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Bantam Books, 2003. Print.
“What is psychoanalytic criticism.” University of Saskatchewan. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.