Biographical

Some critics, formalists among them, insist that biographical information distracts from, even distorts, the process of understanding literary works. Biographical critics dispute this view, arguing that readers benefit from their approach in three ways. They argue that facts about authors’ lived experience help explain aspects of their works. They also claim that knowing the struggles authors confronted in creating those works enhances a reader’s appreciation of them. In addition, biographical critics maintain that through studying how writers modify their actual experience in creating their works, readers can better understand both the writers and the works they produce.