Sydney, Kevin, Jasmine, James Marxist Sydney, Kevin, Jasmine, James

Definition of Marxist literary criticism “Marxist criticism is a type of criticism in which literary works are viewed as the product of work and whose practitioners emphasize the role of class and ideology as they reflect, propagate, and even challenge the prevailing social order (Murfin).” Method used to explain the question of why an author wrote a piece. It does this by looking for the place of class struggle in a piece; it shows the social classes. Marxist criticism also looks at the time period when a piece of work was written.

Background Marxist literary criticism originated from Marxism itself based upon the political and economic theories of the German philosopher Karl Marx (created communism) The theory attempts to explain why an author wrote a work, and includes information about the author’s views on events of that time period. It attempts to understand pieces in their historical significance, looks at social classes of the time period and the separation of the classes

Advantages Marxist literary criticism gives clues to the authors ideology and views on events of the time. Shows the different social classes at that time period and how the author views that Marxist approach displays the notion of the poem/piece Shows the separation of classes and the struggle of the people to change it

Disadvantages Marxist literary criticism does not really touch on explanations for different beliefs pertaining to different aspects of literature. The pieces are based on time periods so without the background information it is hard to understand the piece. Marxists assume that lower class demands to be in the higher class; not always true.

Identity Card By: Mahmoud Darwish Record! I am an Arab And my identity card is number fifty thousand I have eight children And the nineth is coming after a summer Will you be angry?   Record! I am an Arab Employed with fellow workers at a quarry I have eight children I get them bread Garments and books from the rocks.. I do not supplicate charity at your doors Nor do I belittle myself at the footsteps of your chamber So will you be angry?   Record! I am an Arab I have a name without a title Patient in a country Where people are enraged My roots Were entrenched before the birth of time And before the opening of the eras Before the pines, and the olive trees And before the grass grew   My father.. descends from the family of the plow Not from a privileged class And my grandfather..was a farmer Neither well-bred, nor well-born! Teaches me the pride of the sun Before teaching me how to read And my house is like a watchman's hut Made of branches and cane Are you satisfied with my status? I have a name without a title!   Record! I am an Arab You have stolen the orchards of my ancestors And the land which I cultivated Along with my children And you left nothing for us Except for these rocks.. So will the State take them As it has been said?!   Therefore! Record on the top of the first page: I do not hate poeple Nor do I encroach But if I become hungry The usurper's flesh will be my food Beware.. Beware.. Of my hunger And my anger!

Marxist Criticism in the Mahmoud Darwish poem Identity Card The poem Identity Card by Mahmoud Darwish holds an important role in history When the poem was written, there was the Arab-Israeli war going on and had led to chaos over the Palestinian lands. At the same time, the West Bank had been forcibly annexed by Jordan, and the Gaza Strip had the same treatment by Egypt. “You have stolen the orchards of my ancestors and the land which I cultivated along with my children and you left nothing for us except for these rocks.. So will the State take them as it has been said?” This shows that Darwish sees Palestinian lands by their neighbors as nothing other than stolen. It becomes more noticeable when one discovers that Mahmud Darwish is very passionate about Palestinians living in occupied land.

Work Cited Siegel, K. (n.d.). Introduction to Modern Literary Theory. Retrieved 12 3, 2012, from Kristi Siegel.com Marxist Literary Criticism: Brief Guide." assumption.edu. Gateway, n.d. Web. 2 May 2012. Murphin, Ross. "Definition of Marxist Criticism." Critical Approaches. 1998: 1. Web. 2 May 2012.