New Historicist Theory An Introduction

New Historicist Theory considers historical context present at time of publication and in the text’s setting ∴ meaning changes based on society, politics, economics, and culture of both time periods requires outside research Source: Historic Houses Association

How can you apply this theory? Try asking questions like… What global, national, and local events were important… at the time of publication? at the time in which the story is set? How might those events have influenced the text?

Application to Maleficent Make some inferences. What’s the setting of this text? What do we know about that time period in history? (Is extra research needed?) Why is this setting significant to the story being told? What do we know about our modern society? Why is it important that this (markedly different) retelling was produced today?

Marxist Theory An Introduction

+ social-class membership societal organization Marxist Theory social class matters affects economic, political, and social advantages impacts beliefs, values, perceptions, and ways of thinking power struggles are significant highlight conflicts between “haves” and “have nots” ∴ meaning is made by exploring who has power and why economic power + social-class membership societal organization

How can you apply this theory? Try asking questions like… Who/What struggles for power? Why? How does the social class of the characters play a role? What widespread (or dominant) beliefs are present in the text? Are there other beliefs that clash with them?

Application to Maleficent Social groups Plot characters using a social ladder Primary power struggles? any conflicts that could be “class” conflicts On your own... Think about your own social position, either at IHS or in our American society. How has that impacted your reading?