An Introductino to Literary Theories

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An Introduction to

Literary Theories


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The Basic Idea

The point of criticism is to argue yourpoint of view on a work of literature.

You dont have to criticize a text (but

you can)

You do have to analyze a text andsupport your assertions with specific

evidence from experts and the text.


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The Basic Idea

A critical analysis is an in-depthexamination of some aspect of the literarywork

you may examine any element of the text:character development, conflicts,narrative point of view, etc.

Even though its an examination of aliterary work, its still a persuasive essay


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The Basic Idea

The goal is to prove something about thework

There must be a point to the

discussion.

You must answer the questions Why?, orSo what?

For example, why is a recurring symbolimportant? Or, why is the development ofthe female characters significant?


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The Basic Idea

There are many different approaches wecan take to critical analysis

Literary theories provide a framework for

our discussion of a text

We dont have to identify the theory were

using, though.

We use it as a starting point for our ownideas and opinions


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Historical/Biographical

Approach

views literature as the reflection of anauthor's life and times (or of thecharacters' life and times).

it is necessary to know about the authorand the political, economical, andsociological context of his times in order

to truly understand his works.


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Historical/Biographical

Approach

Advantages: works well for some which are obviously

political or biographical in nature.

places allusions in their proper classical,political, or biblical background.

Disadvantages:

"the intentional fallacy"

tends to reduce art to the level of biography andmake it relative (to the times) rather thanuniversal.


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Application

What are some historical or biographicalelements we might examine in adiscussion of our current novel?


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Moral / PhilosophicalApproach: asserts that the larger purpose of

literature is to teach morality and to probephilosophical issues

authors intendto instruct the audience insome way


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Moral / PhilosophicalApproach:Advantages:

useful for works which do present anobvious moral philosophy

useful when considering the themes of works does not view literature merely as "art" isolated

from all moral implications

recognizes that literature can affect readers andthat the message of a work is important.


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Moral / PhilosophicalApproach:Disadvantages:

such an approach can be too"judgmental"

Some believe literature should be judgedprimarily (if not solely) on its artisticmerits, not its moral or philosophical

content.


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Application

What are some moral or philosophicalelements we might examine in adiscussion of our current novel?


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Formalism / New Criticism involves a close reading of the text

all information essential to theinterpretation of a work must be found

within the work itself

focuses on analyzing irony, paradox,imagery, and metaphor

also interested in the work's setting,characters, symbols, and point of view.


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Formalism / New Criticism no need to bring in outside information

about the history, politics, or society ofthe time, or about the author's life

does not view works through the lens offeminism, psychology, mythology, or anyother such standpoint

not interested in the work's affect on thereader.


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Formalism / New CriticismTerms Used in New Criticism: intentional fallacy - the false belief that the

meaning or value of a work may be determinedby the author's intention

affective fallacy - the false belief that themeaning or value of a work may be determinedby its affect on the reader

external form - rhyme scheme, meter, stanzaform, etc.


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Formalism / New CriticismAdvantages:

can be performed without much research

emphasizes the value of literature apart from its

context virtually all critical approaches must begin here

Disadvantages:

text is seen in isolation ignores the context of the work

cannot account for allusions


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Application

What are some formal elements we mightexamine in a discussion of our currentnovel?


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Psychoanalytical Approach views works through the lens of

psychology

looks either at the psychological

motivations of the characters or of theauthors themselves

most frequently applies Freudian

psychology to works, but otherapproaches also exist.


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Freudian Approach toPersonalityThree parts to an individuals psyche:

the id: the instinctual, pleasure seekingpart of the mind

the superego: the part of the mind thatrepresses the id's impulses

the ego: the part of the mind that controls

but does not repress the id's impulses,releasing them in a healthy way


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Sex is Everything

Freud believed that all human behavior ismotivated by sexuality

Oedipus complex: a boy's unconscious

rivalry with his father for the love of hismother

Electra complex: a girls unconscious

rivalry with her mother for the love of herfather (a.k.a. daddy issues)


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Freudian Imagery

Recognizes symbols that are linked to sexualpleasure

concave images, such as ponds, flowers, cups,and caves as female symbols

phallic symbols, objects that are longer thanthey are wide, are male images

dancing, riding, and flying are associated withsexual pleasure

water is usually associated with birth, thefemale principle, the maternal, the womb, andthe death wish.


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Psychoanalytical ApproachAdvantages: can be a useful tool for understanding some works in

which characters obviously have psychological issue knowing something about a writer's psychological

make-up can give us insight into his work.

Disadvantages: can turn a work into a psychological case study sometimes attempts to diagnose long dead authors

based on their works

tends to see sex in everything, exaggerating this aspectof literature some works do not lend themselves readily to this

approach.


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Application

What are some psychological orpsychoanalytical elements we mightexamine in a discussion of our current

novel?


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Archetypal Approach assumes that there is a collection of

symbols, images, characters, and motifs(i.e. archetypes) that evokes basically

the same response in all people identifies these patterns and discusses

how they function in the works

asserts that these archetypes are thesource of much of literature's power.


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Archetypal Approach based on the theories of psychologist

Carl Jung

he states that mankind possesses a

"collective unconscious" that containsthese archetypes and that is common toall of humanity


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Some Archetypes archetypal women - the Good Wife/Mother, the Terrible Mother, theVirgin (often a Damsel in Distress), and the Fallen Woman. water - creation, birth-death-resurrection, purification, redemption,

fertility, growth garden - paradise (Eden), innocence, fertility desert - spiritual emptiness, death, hopelessness

red - blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder green - growth, fertility black - chaos, death, evil serpent - evil, sensuality, mystery, wisdom, destruction seven - perfection

hero archetype - The hero is involved in a quest (in which heovercomes obstacles). He experiences initiation (involving aseparation, transformation, and return), and finally he serves as ascapegoat, that is, he dies to atone.


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Archetypal ApproachAdvantages:

provides a universalistic approach to literatureand identifies a reason why certain literature

may survive the test of time it works well with works that are highly symbolic

Disadvantages:

literature may become a vehicle for archetypes

may ignore the "art" of literature


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Application

What are some archetypal elements wemight examine in a discussion of ourcurrent novel?


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Feminist Approach concerned with the impact of gender on writing and

reading

usually begins with a critique of patriarchal culture

concerned with the place of female writers

concerned with the roles of female characters withinworks

often argues that male fears are portrayed throughfemale characters

may argue that gender determines everything, or justthe opposite: that all gender differences are imposed bysociety, and gender determines nothing.


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Stages of Female Identity

Feminine: the female accepts thedefinitions and roles male authoritieshave created for her

Feminist: rebels against male authorityand intentionally challenges all maledefinitions and roles

Female: no longer concerned with maledefinitions or restrictions; defines her ownvoice and values


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The Mad-Woman in the Attic

Critics Gilbert and Gubar identify apattern in the treatment of femalecharacters in literature, even when written

by women. based on the plot of Jane Eyre

the practice of removing a female

character who is no longer useful to themale characters


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Feminist ApproachAdvantages: redresses the problem of under representation seeks to provide a more realistic portrayal of

women within a text

examines the power struggle between thesexes.

Disadvantages: can turn literary criticism into a political

battlefield can overlook the merits of works they consider

"patriarchal"


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Application

What are some gender-based elementswe might examine in a discussion of ourcurrent novel?


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Reader Response Criticism analyzes the reader's role in the production of meaning lies at the opposite end of the spectrum from formalism

the text itself has no meaning until it is read by a reader

The reader creates the meaning.

can take into account the strategies employed by theauthor to elicit a certain response from readers

denies the possibility that works are universal (i.e. thatthey will always mean more or less the same thing toreaders everywhere)

makes someone's reading a function of personalidentity.


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Reader Response CriticismAdvantages: recognizes that different people view works

differently and that people's interpretations

change over time.Disadvantages:

tends to make interpretation too subjective

does not provide adequate criteria forevaluating one reading in comparison toanother


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Application

What are your personal responses to thisnovel?

Are there certain elements you respond

to strongly or with which you identify?


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Marxist Approach

Karl Marx perceived human history tohave consisted of a series of strugglesbetween classes--between the oppressed

and the oppressing. Marx thought that materialism was the

ultimate driving force in history, a notion

involving the distribution of resources,gain, and production


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Marxist Approach

Feudalism exploits workers to the point ofrevolt

This leads to bourgeois capitalism

In bourgeois capitalism, the privilegedbourgeoisie rely on the workingproletariat

Workers are exploited to the point ofrevolt

Documents

An Introductino to Literary Theories