Then focus on one particular work by that author. Is the work important because of its accurate portrayal of a particular time period? Is it important because of its relevance to modern times? Is it important because of its portrayal of love, death, crime, punishment, justice, power and responsibility, the journey in America? What argument is that author using to make commentary on our society? Is there a continuing theme that prevails throughout that authors works? Develop a research question that interests you. You should consider the various critical approaches to the work and how one or more might be utilized in answering your question. For example: Feminist, Psychoanalytic, Marxist, Postcolonial, New Historicism, New Criticism, Reader-response criticism, Deconstruction, Gender, and Critical Race theories. See “Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism” at Purdue OWL. You will need to research your selected literary theory to develop a better understanding.
