, 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 historically been divided into two
broad approaches: intrinsic and extrinsic. The intrinsic
approach focuses on the internal elements of a literary text,
such as structure, style, form, language, and imagery, whereas
the extrinsic approach emphasizes the external contexts that
shape and influence the text, such as history, culture,
biography, psychology, politics, and society. Both approaches
aim to uncover meaning, but they differ in their starting point,
methods, and priorities. This essay critically compares the two
approaches by examining their theories, practices, strengths,
and weaknesses, and by providing a balanced analysis of their
roles in literary criticism.
Intrinsic Approaches: Theory and Practice
The intrinsic approach is also known as formalism or text-
centered criticism. It treats the literary work as an
autonomous, self-contained object of study. This perspective
is associated with movements such as Russian Formalism, the
September 2025
A Critical Comparison of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Approaches to
the Study of Literature
Introduction
The study of literature has historically been divided into two
broad approaches: intrinsic and extrinsic. The intrinsic
approach focuses on the internal elements of a literary text,
such as structure, style, form, language, and imagery, whereas
the extrinsic approach emphasizes the external contexts that
shape and influence the text, such as history, culture,
biography, psychology, politics, and society. Both approaches
aim to uncover meaning, but they differ in their starting point,
methods, and priorities. This essay critically compares the two
approaches by examining their theories, practices, strengths,
and weaknesses, and by providing a balanced analysis of their
roles in literary criticism.
Intrinsic Approaches: Theory and Practice
The intrinsic approach is also known as formalism or text-
centered criticism. It treats the literary work as an
autonomous, self-contained object of study. This perspective
is associated with movements such as Russian Formalism, the
