Overcoming adversities in acquiring critical analysis of literary text

Abstract

This study aims to know the challenges faced by the students in acquiring critical analysis of literary text and how they cope with the challenges they faced. Also, various insights of the students on the significance of analyzing literary text were shared and discussed in this study. Studies revealed that analyzing literary text critically is a huge challenge faced by significant English students, which causes them to struggle academically. Hence, to know the reasons and experiences regarding this problem, the researchers conducted this qualitative study in the focus group discussion and in-depth interviews with eight (8) selected English major students. The result also revealed that the respondents should engage in habitual, intensive reading and familiarize different literary approaches for critical analysis enhancement. Taken from the experiences of the participants, eleven essential themes were generated: Lack of prior knowledge, Limited vocabulary, Less familiarity of figurative language and other literary devices, No interest in reading, Using a reader-response approach, Unlocking of Difficult Words, Reading attentively, Reading more about the text and the method to be used, Having a reading habit to enhance analysis, Knowing the meaning of figurative languages, idiomatic expressions, and unfamiliar words to understand the text, and Conducting activities and tasks to teach literary analysis. These reasons were expressed and brought enlightenment to the students aiming for better solutions and understanding with the said challenges and difficulties. Moreover, the selected participants dealt with these adversities through a continuous interest in reading, intentional learning about different approaches to be used, and apply it in analyzing literature.