Literary Lens

What are Literary lenses? The term acts a figure of speech. The lenses are used to view a piece of literature from different angles in order to find multiple themes. This has been a relatively new expression in the last few decades as literary lenses have grown to be taught in high schools and colleges throughout the United States and the world. Since the terms creation in the late 20th century, students now learn many of these lenses in school to analyze pieces of literature. The lenses can help a reader understand why something happened, or where it is taking place. They can help to bring discriminatory things to light and cast them aside to better appreciate the work. In the University of Minnesota’s College in the Schools Literature class …show more content…
It is easy to understand, but it also can be too simplistic by not showing enough to fully understand the work. For example, in A Jury of Her Peers I liked the mystery part of the story. The narrative states,”’ “Who did this, Mrs. Wright?” said Harry. He said it businesslike, and she stopped pleatin’ at her apron. “I don’t know,’ she says,’” (Arp 411). I like this part of the story because its a mystery that keeps me reading to find out who killed her husband. It makes the story interesting as I have to try to find clues to piece it together along with the characters who are trying to solve it. Also, I like the setting of the book. In the narrative it is stated,” ‘... All the women-folks liked the telephones...’” (Arp 409). This shows that the narrative is set in more modern times with telephones and electricity. I find this easier to read because I do not have to decipher Old English and phrases that were used in ancient times. Moreover, I liked how Martha Hale is portrayed in a realistic sense. The narrative states,”’ Oh, I wish I’d come over here once in a while!’ she cried. ‘That was a crime! That was a crime! Who’s going to punish that?’” (Arp 423). Martha is upset when she finally figures out that more than likely Minnie killed her husband. Martha blames herself for his death in an indirect way due to the fact that she never visited the old, …show more content…
For instance, the author Susan Glaspell was born in Iowa,” Susan Glaspell lived for the first thirty-two years of her life in Iowa.” The narrative is set in a midwestern area which is comparable to Glaspell’s life. Also, the narrative was first published in 1917 based on Glaspell’s earlier one-act play. The narrative states,” First published in 1917, the story is based on the author’s one-act play Trifles…” (Arp 406). The play follows the characters where as the narrative comes from the point of view of Martha Hale. The reader then is opened up more to Martha’s thoughts and actions so more is learned and understood. And, the narrative shows that the women were treated as subordinates but they were the ones to actually solve the mystery. This can be accounted for the way Glaspell lived her life. She,” had never liked to feel controlled or delimited; born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1876, she rebelled against society’s expectations…” (Ozieblo). She included the way women were treated but also put her views into it forcing the women in the narrative to solve it before the men. Additionally, the crime aspect of the narrative can be seen from Glaspell’s career in Des Moines, Iowa as a newspaper reporter. She,” began work as a reporter for the Des Moines Daily, writing on local crime and politics, an unusual occupation for a woman of her time,” ("A Jury of Her Peers"). The narrative

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