General surveys of English literature often use traditional criticism, which looks to the writer and his times and analyzes the content for its intended purpose and the historical or cultural aspects conveyed in the writing. No in-depth criticism of aims and intent are explored, keeping to a broad overview of the writer and his times.
Structuralist criticism looks at the underlying patterns of symmetry of a literary work, exploring it to discover anthropological and sociological motivation, rather that a critical analysis of style or quality. This school of literary criticism aims to place the work in the bigger picture of society as a whole.
Derived from the work of Northrop Frye, myth criticism seeks to place literary works into a categorized context of exemplary style related to heroes, villains and conquerors. This entails drawing on psychology and finding common denominators with other works in the same category, rather than finding innovative style.
Freudian criticism concentrates on sexual imagery, placing the work within a Freudian perspective, addressing repressed sexual complexities deep within the human consciousness. The aim of Freudian criticism is to analyze the hidden or shrouded aspects of the human psyche, rather than ranking the work aesthetically.
Biographical criticism looks at the writer's biographical details and relates this to the literature to show how much the work reflects the life and personality of the writer, his personal views and opinions. Understanding the writer, the times he wrote in and his personal experience is needed for biographical criticism.
Individual metaphors used in poetry and other literature are the focus of metaphorical criticism, exploring the role they play in meaning, expression and cultural definition in a literary context. In an attempt to fully understand the intended purpose of the use of metaphor, metaphorical criticism aims to clarify meaning, rather than analyze the style of the writer.
New Criticism puts aside any biographical and historical relevance and concentrates on exploring the diction, imagery and meanings found within the literature and how they are accomplished by the writer. Particular elements of style, rhythm and structure are assessed for the success or failure of the poem or prose being analyzed. From the 1930s to the 1960s New Criticism was the accepted form of literary criticism in university literature departments.