literary theory response

I am intrigued by the idea of the New Historicist approach to understanding literature.  I would agree that traditional curriculum and dry textbooks give a very narrow view into an author's world.  By researching information that is pertinent to a particular time period, the literature being studied becomes well rounded and interesting.  Anything that comes alive to a student is remembered more than rote memorization of facts.  I also like the way that learning history and literature together overlap one another in this process.  I have previously homeschooled my children, and found that nearly EVERY subject could be taught by using good literature.  Separating subjects is not just unnecessary, it can be debilitative to the learning process.  Students need to see how things and ideas fit together. I'm anxious to learn more about this theory.

I am also interested in  the Cultural Studies literary theory.  I like the idea of comparing literary works as a way to better understand people and their cultures, thus bringing the area of anthropology into play.

In my children's High School, they are required to perform a certain number of community service hours per year.  According to the definition of Cultural Studies, students can authentically become socially aware and active within their community by being prompted to interact with certain curriculum.  I like this idea better than demanding "volunteer" efforts.

Some final questions:  Does analyzing literature distract from the story itself?  Is it possible to overanalyze?  Where is that line drawn?