- the general term used to describe the most traditional and "common sense" approach to the study of literature
- "liberal" because it claims to be free of any particular social or political viewpoint for interpretation (a literary text can be understood alone)
- "humanism" because it assumes there is a common and unchanging human nature that is relevant to all people (regardless of time/place)
Central Ideas:
- language is an accurate way of recording reality and experience
- all people share a common human nature with common human values that are essential/unchanging
- a literary text enriches our lives and promotes universal human values
- a literary text does not require prior knowledge of historical context, literary context or author biography to understand its independant intention
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