BBL 3403 RESEARCH METHODS IN LITERATURE DR. IDA BAIZURA BAHAR SLIDE E

Literary Criticism

Meaning of literary criticism Most widely used to refer to the evaluative activity of literary critics or reviewers who pass judgment on works of literature Within modern academic circles, it is often judgment in the sense of “analysis” rather than “evaluation” “Literary criticism”, in this sense, is another way of saying “literary analysis” and in this sense, it is a very wide term encompassing an array of different types of analysis.

Criticism and theory “Literary theory” can also be seen as an aspect of “literary criticism”. Criticism and theory differ in terms of their objects of investigation The object of investigation in “literary criticism” is typically a particular literary work or a group of literary works. The object of investigation in “literary theory” involves the way in which we might think about a literary work or a group of literary works.

Meaning of literary criticism [cont.] Studies which aim to analyze particular literary works or groups of works. Literary criticism gives us: A window into a work of literature A particular way of understanding the text from a specific viewpoint

Meaning of literary theory A systematic study of the nature of literature and methods for analyzing literature Developed as a means to understand the various ways people read texts The way in which we might think about a literary work or a group of literary works depends on the schools of thought/critical perspectives/literary theories.

Meaning of literary theory Each one of these school of thoughts/perspectives/theories has a different opinion on which is the most important aspect of any literary work. Each one also makes a certain assumption about literature and the world. Proponents of each theory believe their theory is the theory (In reality, we read texts according to several different theories at one time).

Meaning of literary theory There is no true evidence to say that one theory is ‘better’ than another, but it is interesting to ‘decide’ to read a text with one in mind because it can provide an entirely new perspective on your reading. If so, can any work be analyzed by any method and critical perspective? Certain works are more suitable for an analysis according to a particular method or critical perspective.

Sampling of different literary theories/perspectives Feminism Marxism Psychoanalysis Postcolonialism

Feminist criticism The most important aspect of literature is relationship between the genders. This theory examines patterns of thought, behavior, values, enfranchisement, and power in relations between the genders.

Feminist criticism Assumptions: A pervasively patriarchal society conveys the notion of male dominance through the images of women in its texts. Because many literary texts in patriarchal societies are written by men, many of these texts lack complex female characters. The female reader is an outsider who must assume male values in terms of perception, feelings, and actions. Female characters often reflect stereotypical attitudes toward women. Texts authored by women may have different viewpoints than texts authored by men.

Marxist criticism The most important aspect of literature is money and power! This theory asserts that the presence of economic inequalities in a power structure drives history and influences differences in religion, race, ethnicity, and gender.

Marxist criticism Assumptions: All aspects of humanity are based on the struggle for economic power. The basic struggle in society is between the haves and the have-nots.

Psychoanalytic criticism The most important aspect of literature is psychological issues This theory asserts that a text is like a dream-everything represents something deeper, below the surface e.g. unresolved emotions, psychological conflicts, guilt, ambivalences, and so forth!

Psychoanalytic criticism Assumptions: A text is an expression of the secret, repressed life of its author, explaining the textual features as symbolic of psychological struggles in the writer’s life The “secret life” of the characters can explain their hidden motives or psychological makeup (“armchair psychology”) Readers reveal their own obsessions, neuroses, etc. as they read a particular text.

Postcolonial criticism The most important aspect of literature is the culture (identity) of ex-colonized societies. This theory asserts that the colonized need to reclaim their own past which had been affected by cultural imperialism (decolonization).

Postcolonial criticism Assumptions: Reject claims of universalism Examine representation of other cultures Show how literature is silent on matters of imperialism and colonialism Foreground questions of diversity and cultural difference Celebrate ‘cultural polyvancy’ (belonging to more than one culture) Assert that marginality, plurality and ‘Otherness’ are sources of energy and potential change