What are 4 types of meaning and how can psychology help us find the four in practical criticism?

The four types of meaning often referred to in literature and criticism are:

1. Literal Meaning: This is the most basic, straightforward meaning of a text. It's what the words literally mean.

2. Figurative Meaning: This is a more symbolic or metaphorical interpretation of a text. It's what the words suggest or imply.

3. Connotative Meaning: This refers to the emotional or cultural associations that words carry with them, beyond their literal meaning.

4. Thematic Meaning: This is the overall message or main idea that a text is trying to convey.

Psychology can help us find these four types of meaning in practical criticism in several ways:

1. Literal Meaning: Psychology can help us understand how our brains process language and comprehend the literal meaning of words and sentences.

2. Figurative Meaning: Psychology can help us understand how our brains recognize and interpret metaphors and other figurative language.

3. Connotative Meaning: Psychology can help us understand how our personal experiences, emotions, and cultural backgrounds influence the connotations we associate with certain words.

4. Thematic Meaning: Psychology can help us understand how we derive larger themes and messages from a text, based on our cognitive processing of the information and our emotional responses to it.

In practical criticism, understanding these psychological processes can help us analyze and interpret a text more effectively, by giving us insight into how meaning is constructed and perceived.