Where to find literary criticism and interpretations for A-Level English Literature?

Hi,

I'm studying AS English Literature and am getting really frustrated because I can't seem to find any sort of literary critical opinions online for Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' to use in my essays?

Does anyone know any websites online, or any resources, where I can find criticism in different perspectives (Feminism, Marxism, Psychoanalytical) for Streetcar?

Thanks in advance!

Reply 1

TSR Jessica

19

Sorry you've not had any responses about this. :frown:

Are you sure you've posted in the right place? :smile:

Here's a link to our subject forum which should help get you more responses if you post there. :redface:

Just quoting in Danny Dorito so she can move the thread if needed :wizard:

Spoiler

Reply 2

ewarner2000

14

Original post by Username1502

Hi,

I'm studying AS English Literature and am getting really frustrated because I can't seem to find any sort of literary critical opinions online for Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' to use in my essays?

Does anyone know any websites online, or any resources, where I can find criticism in different perspectives (Feminism, Marxism, Psychoanalytical) for Streetcar?

Thanks in advance!

I am exactly the same!! Did you manage to find any?? xx

Reply 3

Username1502

OP

12

Original post by ewarner2000

I am exactly the same!! Did you manage to find any?? xx

Hiya,

My teacher gave me a nice pack with criticism for Streetcar, if you're studying this text. Let me know if you want it and I can e-mail it down.

Reply 4

LeapingLucy

19

Original post by ewarner2000

I am exactly the same!! Did you manage to find any?? xx

If your school has a subscription to Jstor, go through articles on there and highlight good quotes.

Reply 5

g5924

5

What grade are you aiming for? In the Streetcar exam you only need to know a handful of critical interpretations. Even if you memorise 2 or 3, as long as you analyse what the critic says, alongside what they are actually critiquing, then you are bound to secure top marks for AO4.

For critical interpretations, you don't necessarily even have to name and quote a critic. Bearing in mind that this is only a rough example, saying something along the lines of 'a feminist critic may argue that Stella is a prime example of the 'battered wife syndrome' as not once does she retaliate to Stanley's consistently misogynistic behaviour towards her' is just as good as saying '[X] argues [X's point]'. By the way, I would research deeper into the 'battered wife syndrome' as it links strongly to the psychoanalytical theory of learned helplessness, so you'd basically be killing two birds with one stone here if you'd want to analyse what the critic has to say :wink:

If your school/local library has them, try looking through literary magazines such as 'The English Review'. Every one of these magazines has a few articles inside written by known literature critics. Streetcar does appears quite often in this magazine so I don't think it will be that hard to find if you take a good look.

Although it's a bit of long read, I strongly suggest taking a look at Felicia Hardison Londré's critical analysis of Streetcar. It is definitely worth it.

Reply 6

ewarner2000

14

Original post by Username1502

Hiya,

My teacher gave me a nice pack with criticism for Streetcar, if you're studying this text. Let me know if you want it and I can e-mail it down.

That would be amazing! I'll pm you. xx

Reply 7

rosie.mn

14

JSTOR and simply typing a streetcar named desire into google scholar can be useful. It is possible to get a high grade with only a few critical interpretations, perhaps read an article for every theme? That could be good.

Reply 8

Secular_Priest

13

Is this for edexcel?

If so, it isn't assessed based on AO5 so why are critical opinions relevant?

Reply 9

ewarner2000

14

Original post by Secular_Priest

Is this for edexcel?

If so, it isn't assessed based on AO5 so why are critical opinions relevant?

It's for AQA :smile:

Reply 10

Secular_Priest

13

Original post by ewarner2000

It's for AQA :smile:

PHEW!!

Reply 11

gcawleyx

6

Original post by Username1502

Hiya,

My teacher gave me a nice pack with criticism for Streetcar, if you're studying this text. Let me know if you want it and I can e-mail it down.

Hi could you email this to me if you still have it? Ill dm you my email :smile:

Reply 12

Talissa.

1

Hey that sounds real helpful, if you could hit me up with that i'd really appreciate it...

Reply 13

dok05

1

Original post by Username1502

Hiya,

My teacher gave me a nice pack with criticism for Streetcar, if you're studying this text. Let me know if you want it and I can e-mail it down.

Im studying it too

Reply 14

laurxnhannah

6

This may not be helpful but what I do is research a critic i.e Marxism, rather than specifically finding an opinion on a book (which is hard to find!) I link it myself. So if i were to use a feminism perspective like Van Zoonen and her feminist theory, although there isn't a mentioned link I'll find it. But for A streetcar i would reccomend reading/buying a york notes guide as these always include AO5 comments and ciritcs to use!

Where to find literary criticism and interpretations for A-Level English Literature?

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