ENG3703
Assignment 3
Due September 2025
, ENG3703
Assignment 3
Due September 2025
Theoretical Approaches to English Language and Literature
INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
The study of literature has long been characterized by two dominant approaches: the
intrinsic and the extrinsic. The intrinsic approach centers on the internal characteristics
of the text itself—its form, structure, language, and coherence—viewing the work as an
aesthetic object to be analyzed in isolation from external factors such as authorial intent,
reader response, or historical context. This perspective, epitomized by movements like
Formalism and New Criticism, prioritizes the "self-contained" nature of the text. In
contrast, extrinsic approaches interpret literature as a cultural product shaped by socio-
political, historical, and ideological forces, suggesting that literature is not merely an
artifact of artistic expression but also a mirror to the larger cultural and social contexts in
which it exists. This view is foundational to Marxist criticism, feminism, postcolonial
theory, and other contextual frameworks that emphasize power relations, identity
formation, and social structures in the interpretation of literature.
This essay critically compares intrinsic and extrinsic approaches, examining their
theoretical assumptions, the critical practices they inspire, and their respective strengths
and limitations. Furthermore, it explores how these methodologies, though distinct, can
be integrated to offer a more holistic understanding of literature. It argues that while
intrinsic methods provide valuable tools for close reading and aesthetic analysis,
extrinsic approaches bring essential insights into literature’s cultural and social
Assignment 3
Due September 2025
, ENG3703
Assignment 3
Due September 2025
Theoretical Approaches to English Language and Literature
INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
The study of literature has long been characterized by two dominant approaches: the
intrinsic and the extrinsic. The intrinsic approach centers on the internal characteristics
of the text itself—its form, structure, language, and coherence—viewing the work as an
aesthetic object to be analyzed in isolation from external factors such as authorial intent,
reader response, or historical context. This perspective, epitomized by movements like
Formalism and New Criticism, prioritizes the "self-contained" nature of the text. In
contrast, extrinsic approaches interpret literature as a cultural product shaped by socio-
political, historical, and ideological forces, suggesting that literature is not merely an
artifact of artistic expression but also a mirror to the larger cultural and social contexts in
which it exists. This view is foundational to Marxist criticism, feminism, postcolonial
theory, and other contextual frameworks that emphasize power relations, identity
formation, and social structures in the interpretation of literature.
This essay critically compares intrinsic and extrinsic approaches, examining their
theoretical assumptions, the critical practices they inspire, and their respective strengths
and limitations. Furthermore, it explores how these methodologies, though distinct, can
be integrated to offer a more holistic understanding of literature. It argues that while
intrinsic methods provide valuable tools for close reading and aesthetic analysis,
extrinsic approaches bring essential insights into literature’s cultural and social
