The purpose of this study is to explore studies focusing on a literary text conducive to providing critical content within the context of International Baccalaureate (IB) Language A: language and literature for preparing instructional guidelines built around the concept of identity. To this end, the researcher selected, analyzed and synthesized studies focusing on James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. The researcher first identified second-order interpretations derived from the PhD dissertations focusing on A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Then, she used them to construct third-order constructs, and further categorized them around the concept of identity which is regarded as the essential conceptual component of studies in IB language and literature courses. These constructs in the form of lines of arguments were then used to prepare guidelines to inform critical literacy instruction.