HANDOUT IN ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES
TOPIC: BIOGRAPHICAL APPROACH
SUBMITTED BY:
Sales, Regine Atheena Grace P.
Vicencio, Mark William L.
Batula, Jade Norman A.
Resano, Elaiza Mae D.
Docabo, Jerald P.
Apura, Adeline C.
Lialde, Ymar C.
SUBMITTED TO:
NEDI AIRA T. KALLUNG
TEACHER
AUGUST,19,2025
I. Definition / Description
A. The Biographical Approach studies a literary work by examining
the author’s life and experiences (Guerin, W. L., et al. ,2005).
B. The Biographical Approach analyzes texts by connecting the
author’s personal history, beliefs, and environment to their writing.
(Abrams, M. H. ,1999).
C. The Biographical Approach emphasizes that knowing the writer’s
background helps readers better understand the meaning of the
text. (Kennedy ,et al. ,2007).
II. Proponents
A. Samuel Johnson
1. Author of Lives of the Poets (1779–81), the first thorough
exercise in biographical criticism. (University of Perpetual Help
System Jonelta, 2023)
B. Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve
1. French critic who argued that understanding an artist requires
understanding their biography. (University of Perpetual Help
System Jonelta, 2023)
C. Hippolyte Adolphe Taine
1. French historian and critic, a key influence on naturalism and
historicist criticism. (University of Perpetual Help System
Jonelta, 2023)
D. Sigmund Freud
1. Psychoanalyst who examined how an author’s unconscious
and experiences influence writing. (University of Perpetual
Help System Jonelta, 2023)
E. Virginia Woolf
1. Critic who used biographical criticism to highlight feminist
perspectives in literature. (University of Perpetual Help
System Jonelta, 2023)
III. Focus
A. The Biographical Approach examines how an author’s
experiences shape their writing.
B. The Biographical Approach studies the author’s background,
beliefs, and historical context in relation to their work.
C. The Biographical Approach connects the writer’s personal life to
the themes and content of their texts.
IV. Key Terms
A. Biographical Approach
1. A way of studying a story by looking at the author’s life.
B. Author’s Life
1. The real experiences of the writer.
C. Personal History
1. The writer’s past, including childhood and family background.
D. Beliefs
1. The writer’s ideas, opinions, or values.
E. Environment
1. The place, culture, and society where the writer lived.
V. Applications
A. The Biographical Approach is applied by connecting the author’s
life to the story. (Attridge, D., 2019)
B. The Biographical Approach identifies how the author’s
experiences, struggles, and beliefs appear in the text. (Attridge, D.,
2019)
C. The Biographical Approach helps readers understand the purpose
and message of the work. (Attridge, D., 2019)
VI. Guide Questions
A. What important events in the author’s life influenced this work?
(Kennedy,[Link]., 2007)
B. How do the writer’s beliefs or struggles appear in the text?
C. What does the text reveal about the author’s personality or
worldview? (Bary, 2009)
D. How did the author’s time and environment shape their writing?
(Bary, 2009)
VII. Cautions / What to Avoid
A. Avoid reducing the literary work solely to the author’s biography.
B. Avoid assuming that every detail in the text is purely
autobiographical.
C. Avoid ignoring the artistic and independent value of the text.
D. Avoid ignoring the broader social, cultural, and historical context
of the text.
E. Avoid overlooking the independent value of the literary work as
an art form.
VIII. Example
A. Title: Noli Me Tangere
1. Thesis Statement: Rizal’s experiences with injustice and
discrimination influenced the themes of oppression,
corruption, and the fight for national identity in Noli Me
Tangere.
References
Abrams, M. H. (1999). A Glossary of Literary Terms (7th ed.).
Harcourt Brace. Retrieved from:
[Link]
8/a-glossary-of-literary-terms-7th-ed_m-[Link]
Attridge, D. (2019). The Experience of Poetry: From Homer’s
Listeners to Shakespeare’s Readers. Oxford University
Press. Access the book or its overview via Google Books:
Retrieved from
[Link]
[Link]?id=euCGDwAAQBAJ
Barry, P. (2009). Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and
Cultural Theory. Manchester University Press. Retrieved
from Internet Archive:
[Link]
Guerin, W. L., et al. (2005). A Handbook of Critical Approaches to
Literature. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from:
[Link]
Kennedy, X. J., & Gioia, D. (2007). Literature: An Introduction to
Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing (10th ed.). Pearson.
Retrieved
[Link]
id=cPlHN9myID4C
Literary Devices Editors. (2015). Biographical criticism. Literary
Devices. [Link]
ThoughtCo. (2019). Biographical criticism. ThoughtCo.
[Link]
Literary Criticism (LITECRI (MS12)). (2023). Biographical criticism.
University of Perpetual Help System
[Link]://[Link]/ph/document/university-
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