Extrinsic Elements

Basic Concept
Extrinsic element is also known as

extrinsic factors influence the literary

works
It is usually becomes a causal
explanation for some description,
analysis, and evaluation of a literary
work.
Thus, critics may use extrinsic factors
as an approach to make a criticism
towards any literary works.

Definition
Extrinsic factors are the literary

elements / factors which can be

found outside the literary works but
it is indirectly influence the
structure of the literary works
Extrinsic approach is used by
critics to emphasize the importance
of the context to the text.

The focus of Extrinsic

approach
It is focused on the

background, history, social

conditions and biography of the
author.
Sometimes, it connects
literature to the social context
and psychology as well.

According to Wellek & Warren (1956), part of

which includes extrinsic elements are as follows:

Circumstances of individual subjectivity authors who

have attitudes, beliefs, and outlook on life that these

things affect the making of literary works.
Psychological state, psychological well the author,
psychological readers, as well as the application of
psychological principles in the work.
Author of circumstances, such as economic, social, and
political.
View of life of a nation, the various works of art, religion,
and so forth.
Background of the authors life as part of the extrinsic
elements affects works of literature. For example, the
author of a particular area of cultural backgrounds, are
consciously or unconsciously, will incorporate elements
of culture into literature.

Literature and Biography

Biography may give any

contribution to the making of

literary works.
From a biography, we will not only
know the genius, moral, intellectual
and emotional development of a
man but we may learn the
psychology condition and author
creative process.

The biographical approach forgets that a work

of art is not only simply the embodiment of

experience but always the latest work in a
series of such works; it is in drama, a novel, a
poem determined, so far as it is determined at
all, by literary tradition and conventions. The
biographical approach actually obscures a
proper comprehension of the literary process,
since it breaks up the order of literary tradition
to substitute the life-circle of an individual
(Wellek and Warren, 1977: 78)

The biographical approach ignores

also quite simple psychological

facts. A work of art may be the
mask, the anti-self behind which
his real person is hiding, or it may
be a picture of the life from which
the author wants to escape
(Wellek and Warren,
1977: 78).

Literature and Psychology

Psychology can explain about the

creative process.
A study of revisions, corrections,
and the like has more which is
literarily profitable, since, well used,
it may help us perceive critically
relevant fissures, inconsistencies,
turnings, distortions, in a work of art
(Wellek and Warren, 1977: 91).

The influence of extrinsic

factors

Extrinsic elements become an integral part

of the building works of literature.

Extrinsic elements give color and flavor to
literature, which in turn can be interpreted
as meaning.
Extrinsic elements that affect the work can
also be used as a portrait of objective reality
at the time the work was born. So that we as
readers can understand the psychological
mood state of society and author at the
time.

Authors religious background or

religiosity also can affect the work of

the author's life back literature. It is
important in influencing the work of
these extrinsic literature.
World view as the way how the writer
looks or means the world, including
his/her beliefs and principles of life
affect the work of the author's life back
literature.

The examples
Siti Nurbaya Novel has brought Minangkabau

culture to the story. This is consistent with the

background of its author, Marah Rusli, which
originated from Minangkabau region. He
described the culture of its origin into the taste
of his literary works
Sigmund Freud found his works were almost
same with Dostoyevskys The Brothers
Kamarazov, in Hamlet, in Diderots Neveu de
Rameau, in Goethe. He was well educated in
Austria and respected the classical works of
Greeks and German literature.

Notes
The use of extrinsic approach become the

important part of the literary theory

development.
New Criticism such as the Feminism theory,
Psychoanalysis, and Marxist theory enhance
the extrinsic factors of the literary work to
do any literary criticism.
The development of the extrinsic approach
brings positive impact to the development of
pop literature as author may criticize the
social condition through their literary works.

References
Wellek Rene & Austin Warren. 1956. Theory

of Literature, (3rd Ed.). New York: Harcourt,

Brace & World
Wellek Rene & Austin Warren. 1977. Theory
of Literature. New York: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich