Critical Approaches Review of Related Theories

2.1.2 Critical Approaches

According to Klarer, religion has always played an important influence on literary studies. He says, “This religious and magical words of textual studies can be traced from preliterate eras all the way to temporary theology and has always exerted a major influence on literary studies” 76. Literature teaches many things about life. Reading a piece of literary work is similar to reading a story of life. Literary works that reflect and explore human life cannot also be separated to religious values that are expressed through the work and religious values are found through Bible. Since literature and religion have a close relation, a Christian approach needs employing as a means to interpret a work of literature. According to Norton, using a positive Christian approach will lead to the road of truth as well as to all the good 1961: ixxi. Every literary works cannot be seen from the surface only. Studying works of literature will include the studying about life that also has religious va lues, including love, sacrifice, forgiveness and many more. Therefore, the religious aspects should be a consideration in interpreting the literary works in order to get a deeper meaning of the work. Brother Leo, in Norton’s A Christian Approach to Western Literature, says, “The religious conception of existence is the open sesame to the spacious treasure house of the written world, to the imperishable record of what all though all the ages man has thought and felt in terms of beauty and of truth” Norton, 1961: 5. It means that interpreting a literary work without ignoring the religious problem will enable the reader not only to see the beauty of the work, but also the biblical values through the work. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI Therefore, a Christian approach is used to help the writer in analyzing the novel. Since this study deals with religious values, the biblical values become the focus. In conclusion, the religious values are important aspects of the novel to analyze.

2.1.3 Theory of value s