English is part of the Faculty of Humanities and so it has the same scientific approaches as other courses like Danish, Religion and History. Go to "HUMANIORA" under "Videnskabsteori & Metode".
There are several literary approaches you can chose when analyzing fiction and nonfiction. Some are relevant for some texts and others for other texts. First, read the literary text thoroughly and then consider which approach is relevant.
By Trine Østergaard “The English Handbook”, Systime, 2017, https://theenglishhandbook.systime.dk/?id=12
The formalist/new criticism approach can always be used as it looks at the text without considering the context in which the literary text was written. When using the formalist/new criticism approach, you have to remember always to substantiate your analysis by using examples from the text.
The biographical approach can be used if you believe that the author or events in the author's life are visible in the literary text. Then, you will have to dig deeper into finding information about the author to determine, how the author's life has influenced the writing of the literary text. Remember both to look for cues of the author's life in setting, narrator and characterization and maybe even themes.
The historical approach can be used if you, while reading, can determine that important historical events seem to have influenced the literary text. Then, you will have to read up upon what happened historically, in society and politically at the time the literary text was written. If you can see a connection between historical, societal and political events at the time, you can use to historical approach to analyse how events have influenced the literary text both through setting, themes and characterization.
In Trine Østergaard “The English Handbook”, Systime, 2017 you can find more descriptions on …
The psychoanalytic approach may be used when you want to dig deep into e.g. the psychological motifs of the literary text or especially the main character's psyche and behaviour. Therefore, when using the psychanalytic approach the main focus of analysis is placed on characterization, the overall themes and motifs of the literary text.
The socio-linguistic approach can be used if you see that other Englishes than standard English are used in the literary text. You can then analyse which types of Englishes are used? Why these types of Englishes have been chosen by the author and how it affects the literary text, setting, structure, characterization and themes.
The post-colonial approach can be used if you can see that the author is from a former colony or from a (former) colonial power writing about race, ethnicity or identity. These literary texts can be written by authors from countries such as Australia, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, India and Great Britain (e.g. Kipling). When you analyse the literary text you will have to look for cues regarding race, identity, power (one culture feeling superior to the other) and how this is expressed through setting, themes, narrator and characterization.