, ENG3703 Assignment 3 2025 (Answer Guide) - DUE
September 2025
A Critical Comparison of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Approaches to
the Study of Literature
Introduction
The study of literature has long been shaped by different
critical approaches, each offering unique perspectives for
interpreting texts. Two dominant frameworks are intrinsic and
extrinsic approaches. The intrinsic approach focuses on the
text itself—its structure, style, language, imagery, and form—
without necessarily considering external contexts. In contrast,
the extrinsic approach examines literature in relation to
external factors such as history, psychology, sociology, politics,
and the author’s life. Both methods have significantly
contributed to literary criticism, but they differ in theory,
practice, and scope. This paper critically compares intrinsic
and extrinsic approaches, highlighting their strengths,
weaknesses, and overall relevance in literary studies.
Intrinsic Approaches: Theory and Practice
The intrinsic approach (sometimes called formalism,
structuralism, or New Criticism) treats the literary text as an
autonomous object. The meaning of the work is derived from
September 2025
A Critical Comparison of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Approaches to
the Study of Literature
Introduction
The study of literature has long been shaped by different
critical approaches, each offering unique perspectives for
interpreting texts. Two dominant frameworks are intrinsic and
extrinsic approaches. The intrinsic approach focuses on the
text itself—its structure, style, language, imagery, and form—
without necessarily considering external contexts. In contrast,
the extrinsic approach examines literature in relation to
external factors such as history, psychology, sociology, politics,
and the author’s life. Both methods have significantly
contributed to literary criticism, but they differ in theory,
practice, and scope. This paper critically compares intrinsic
and extrinsic approaches, highlighting their strengths,
weaknesses, and overall relevance in literary studies.
Intrinsic Approaches: Theory and Practice
The intrinsic approach (sometimes called formalism,
structuralism, or New Criticism) treats the literary text as an
autonomous object. The meaning of the work is derived from
