8 novel to teach Intensive Reading II. In this study, the writer gives another
example of implementation.
B. Review of Related Theories
This part will present the theories of critical approach, character, characterization, friendship, and motivation. It is important to understand those
theories since this study will analyze the friendship between two characters, Mariam and Laila.
1. Critical Approach
There are many ways to know the nature, function, and positive values in a novel. According to Rohrberger and Woods Jr 3-15, there are five critical
approaches. Those approaches are the formalist approach, the biographical approach, the sociocultural-historical approach, the mythopoeic approach, and
psychological approach. The formalist approach is apprehended to the totality of the literary object. These critics insist on the total integrity of the literary piece.
The biographical approach asserts the necessity for appreciation of the ideas and personality of the author to understand a novel. This approach assumes that the
life of an author has influenced the novel. The sociocultural-historical approach is the consideration of social, cultural, and historical backgrounds of the literary
works are a matter of importance. The mythopoeic approach can be used for explaining the mystical relationship found in a story. The psychological approach
9 involves the effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent patterns; it draws on
a different body of knowledge. Beside those five critical approaches which are mentioned by Rohrberger and
Woods, there are some more additional critical approaches to literature. Guerin 17 mentions that feminist criticism is as one of critical approaches that can be
used beside those five approaches. By focusing on friendship of the two characters, Mariam and Laila, this
study uses the psychological approach, the sociocultural – historical approach, and the feminist literary approach.
2. Character
a. Definition of Character Stanton 17 says every story essentially displays actions. To describe
actions in a story, of course, people who do those actions are needed. In a story, they are called characters. It is through the knowledge of fictional characters
readers can understand their actions and vice versa. Understanding characters of the novels is very important because characters
gives description and imagination through the actions.
b. Types of Character Henkle 87-97 categorizes two types of character. They are major character
and secondary character. The major characters are the characters that are observed most often in the novel and frequently appear in the novel. The secondary
10 characters are characters that have only limited function and performance in the
novel. Usually, the story depends on the major character’s action. Then, the secondary characters give effects to the story.
Further, Abrams 24 states two kinds of characters, namely flat character and round character. A flat character is also called a type character or a
dimensional character. It means that the character is built on a single idea or quality. Therefore, heshe is presented in outline and without much
individualizing detail, only in a short sentence or phrase. A round character is also called a dynamic character which is complex in temperament and motivation. The
author describes the character like a human being in real life who can act unpredictably. The characters may surprise the readers because of the actions. It
makes the novel interesting.
3. Characterization
