2. The Wonderful World of Literary Theory: A Crash Course (in brief) (and a darn good trial note-taking experience) A Crash Course (in brief) (and a darn good trial note-taking experience)

3.  a means to understand the various ways people read & connect with texts /“lenses” through which we can see texts  Usually leads to a whole new perspective One of the views is likely to affirm your perspective and speak to what you see in the literature you are studying.  Studying a view different from yours—not to disagree with it, but to understand it—helps you understand those who hold that view.  Studying a work from more than one view gives you a deeper understanding of the author’s work and a better appreciation for the richness of it.  a means to understand the various ways people read & connect with texts /“lenses” through which we can see texts  Usually leads to a whole new perspective One of the views is likely to affirm your perspective and speak to what you see in the literature you are studying.  Studying a view different from yours—not to disagree with it, but to understand it—helps you understand those who hold that view.  Studying a work from more than one view gives you a deeper understanding of the author’s work and a better appreciation for the richness of it. Benefits of studying a work from more than one critical perspective

4. Myriad Approaches Important: No single theory is necessarily correct or true above any other Critical approaches usually derive from personal discretion or applicability Some approaches naturally lend themselves to particular works Important: No single theory is necessarily correct or true above any other Critical approaches usually derive from personal discretion or applicability Some approaches naturally lend themselves to particular works

5. For example… Any work by Hemingway would naturally lend itself to a biographical approach

6. Another example… It would be tough to talk about Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried without understanding the historical context…

7. Reader Response Theory Attempts to describe what happens in a person’s mind when interpreting a text Recognizes plurality of texts Explores contradictions inherent in the problem this approach presents

8. This movement flourished in France and England during the 18 th century—deriving itself from the romantic movement. The theory that primitive people, “noble savages”, are superior to modern, civilized humankind. It’s based in the theory that civilization itself corrupts our souls because God exists most purely in nature and primitive people live more natural lives than civilized people do; therefore, they are “better” than civilized people. Primitivism

9. They believed that humans were essentially good and noble but are, eventually, corrupted by modern civilized society’s greed, education, etc. which stifle individual freedom and thus erode moral goodness. One of the movement’s central tenets is that “progress is decay” Primitivism and its central idealization of the noble savage greatly influenced the romantic movement and later the rise of realism in America

10. ‘New’ Criticism Regards literature as a unique form of human knowledge to be regarded in its own terms Apart from or above biographical, social, historical, or cultural influences Literature is understood through its intrinsic literary features TEXT-CENTERED: focus on words “Close Reading” Focus on intense relationships in a work Form and content cannot be meaningfully separated Interdependence of form and content make a text literary “Close Reading” Focus on intense relationships in a work Form and content cannot be meaningfully separated Interdependence of form and content make a text literary

11. Began in 1920s Dominant in 1940s and 1950s During this era, a hostility was developing against the increased industrialization of and materialism in the United States. Within the movement existed an opposition to the modern “inorganic” civilization. New Criticism was primarily used for analysis of poetry, but can be used to look at fiction. New Criticism, a very radical type of literary analysis, is concerned only with the text itself– with its language and organization

12. Examining “Cinderella” from a New Critical / Formalist Perspective Look for symbolic, or some other, significance for the specific items and animals chosen (for the coach and staff) and/or the numbers of each chosen. Compare the speech patterns of Cinderella and the stepmother and stepsisters. Are there noticeable differences in cadence? Do any use more (or less) figurative or poetic language than the others? Do any speak noticeably more (or less) than the others? Look for symbolic, or some other, significance for the specific items and animals chosen (for the coach and staff) and/or the numbers of each chosen. Compare the speech patterns of Cinderella and the stepmother and stepsisters. Are there noticeable differences in cadence? Do any use more (or less) figurative or poetic language than the others? Do any speak noticeably more (or less) than the others?

13. Biographical Criticism Considers that literature is written by actual people Understanding of author’s life helps comprehend the work Author’s experience SHAPES the creation of the work Practical advantage: illuminates text Be judicious--base interpretation on what is in the text itself (Cheever, Plath, Fitzgerald examples) Considers that literature is written by actual people Understanding of author’s life helps comprehend the work Author’s experience SHAPES the creation of the work Practical advantage: illuminates text Be judicious--base interpretation on what is in the text itself (Cheever, Plath, Fitzgerald examples)

14. Historical Criticism Investigation of social, cultural, and intellectual contexts that produced the work Necessarily includes author’s biography and milieu Impact and meaning on original audience (as opposed to today’s) How a text’s meaning has changed over time Connotations of words, images (1940, America) Investigation of social, cultural, and intellectual contexts that produced the work Necessarily includes author’s biography and milieu Impact and meaning on original audience (as opposed to today’s) How a text’s meaning has changed over time Connotations of words, images (1940, America)

15. Psychological Criticism Owes much to the work of Sigmund Freud / or Lacan Analysis of Oedipus--considered Sophocles’ insight into human mind influential Painful memories (esp. from childhood) repressed, stored in subconscious Freud and followers (including Carl Jung) believed that great literature truthfully reflects life Owes much to the work of Sigmund Freud / or Lacan Analysis of Oedipus--considered Sophocles’ insight into human mind influential Painful memories (esp. from childhood) repressed, stored in subconscious Freud and followers (including Carl Jung) believed that great literature truthfully reflects life

16. Psychological cont’d… Three approaches 1. Creative process of the arts What is genius and how is it related to mental functions? How does a work impact the mind of the reader? 2.Psychological study of artist 3.Analysis of fictional characters Freud’s analysis of Oedipus is the prototype Attempt to apply modern insights to fictional people All psych criticism seeks to DELVE Three approaches 1. Creative process of the arts What is genius and how is it related to mental functions? How does a work impact the mind of the reader? 2.Psychological study of artist 3.Analysis of fictional characters Freud’s analysis of Oedipus is the prototype Attempt to apply modern insights to fictional people All psych criticism seeks to DELVE

17. Examining “Cinderella” from a Psychoanalytic Perspective - Consider Cinderella as a representative of the id —expressing desire. Consider the stepmother and stepsisters as representatives of the superego—preventing the id from fulfilling its desire. Consider the fairy godmother and the prince as representatives of the ego—negotiating between the id and the superego and allowing the desires of the id to be fulfilled in a socially acceptable manner. - Consider Cinderella as a representative of the id —expressing desire. Consider the stepmother and stepsisters as representatives of the superego—preventing the id from fulfilling its desire. Consider the fairy godmother and the prince as representatives of the ego—negotiating between the id and the superego and allowing the desires of the id to be fulfilled in a socially acceptable manner.

18. Mythological Criticism “Archetypes” Seeks recurrent universal patterns Combines insights of many disciplines: Anthropology Psychology History Comparative religion Seeks recurrent universal patterns Combines insights of many disciplines: Anthropology Psychology History Comparative religion

19. Mythological cont’d… Explores artist’s common humanity (as opposed to individual emphasis in pysch. crit.) THE ARCHETYPE A symbol, character, situation, or image that evokes a deep universal response Carl Jung (Swiss psychologist)--lifetime student of myth and religion “collective unconscious” Set of primal memories common to the human race (existing below conscious mind) Archetypal images (like sun, moon, fire, night, blood) trigger the “c.u.” Important to link text to other texts with similar or related archetypal situations Explores artist’s common humanity (as opposed to individual emphasis in pysch. crit.) THE ARCHETYPE A symbol, character, situation, or image that evokes a deep universal response Carl Jung (Swiss psychologist)--lifetime student of myth and religion “collective unconscious” Set of primal memories common to the human race (existing below conscious mind) Archetypal images (like sun, moon, fire, night, blood) trigger the “c.u.” Important to link text to other texts with similar or related archetypal situations

20. Examining “Cinderella” from an Archetypal Perspective Examine the stepmother and stepsisters as archetypal villains. Examine the chores Cinderella must complete (especially involving the beans in the fireplace in Grimm version) as the archetypal catalogue of difficult tasks. Examine the stepmother and stepsisters as archetypal villains. Examine the chores Cinderella must complete (especially involving the beans in the fireplace in Grimm version) as the archetypal catalogue of difficult tasks.

21. Sociological Criticism Examines literature in the cultural, economic, and political context in which it is written or received Art not created in a vacuum Relationship between author and society Social status of author Social content of a work (values presented) Role of audience in shaping literature Examines literature in the cultural, economic, and political context in which it is written or received Art not created in a vacuum Relationship between author and society Social status of author Social content of a work (values presented) Role of audience in shaping literature

22. Marxist Theory Four main areas of study: economic power materialism versus spirituality class conflict art, literature, and ideologies Four main areas of study: economic power materialism versus spirituality class conflict art, literature, and ideologies

23. A type of historical criticism that interprets a literary work as both a reflection and a product of economic conflict between social classes. The basis of Marxist Criticism is the theory that those who control the society’s economics also influence and control society’s cultural and intellectual products. From this base we can see how a literary work’s analysis could flow over from Primitivism into Marxist Criticism and vice versa. After all, the belief that society (i.e. classes) and wealth, power, and greed damage the human soul and spirit is ABSOLUTELY evident in Marxist literary criticism. This is a means not only of critically analyzing literature but also society. Marxism

24. Examining “Cinderella” from a Marxist Perspective Consider Cinderella as a representative of the proletariat: oppressed by her bourgeoisie stepmother and stepsisters, who have stolen her rightful inheritance and turned her into a servant in her own home; - desiring to join the ranks of the bourgeoisie by marrying the prince. Consider Cinderella as a representative of the proletariat: oppressed by her bourgeoisie stepmother and stepsisters, who have stolen her rightful inheritance and turned her into a servant in her own home; - desiring to join the ranks of the bourgeoisie by marrying the prince.

25. Gender Criticism Examines how sexual identity influences the creation and reception of literary works Began with feminist movement Influenced by sociology, psychology, and anthropology Feminist critics see a world saturated with “male-produced” assumptions Seek to correct imbalance by battling patriarchal attitudes Examines how sexual identity influences the creation and reception of literary works Began with feminist movement Influenced by sociology, psychology, and anthropology Feminist critics see a world saturated with “male-produced” assumptions Seek to correct imbalance by battling patriarchal attitudes

26. Three main areas of study and points of criticism exist in the Feminist Theory: 1. differences between men and women 2. women in positions of power and power dynamics between men and women 3. the female experience 1. differences between men and women 2. women in positions of power and power dynamics between men and women 3. the female experience

27. Born of the 1970s feminist movement (2 nd wave). Sought to recover and reassess the works of female authors over the years and evaluate the female image as it is portrayed by male authors analyzing sexism and gender privilege in language These critics theorized that female writers had been largely dismissed over the years, their work had been seen as deriving “out of nowhere” and being unguided and sporadic. Thus, feminist critics sought to offer this movement to try to counterbalance the influence of the male tradition. Feminist Theory

28. Feminist criticism analyzes how an author’s gender influences ideas Also, how sexual identity influences reader Reader sees text through eyes of his or her sex Examination of social forces responsible for gender inequality Feminist criticism analyzes how an author’s gender influences ideas Also, how sexual identity influences reader Reader sees text through eyes of his or her sex Examination of social forces responsible for gender inequality

29. Gender cont’d… Gender criticism expands beyond original feminist perspective Different sexual orientations Men’s movement Not rejection of feminism, but a contemporary rediscovery of masculinity Gender criticism expands beyond original feminist perspective Different sexual orientations Men’s movement Not rejection of feminism, but a contemporary rediscovery of masculinity

30. Examining “Cinderella” from a Feminist Perspective Consider the potentially misogynist theme of abused-girl-waiting-to-be-rescued-by- prince. Consider the values conveyed in the portrayal of the “good girl” as physically beautiful and the “wicked girls” as physically ugly. Consider the potentially misogynist theme of abused-girl-waiting-to-be-rescued-by- prince. Consider the values conveyed in the portrayal of the “good girl” as physically beautiful and the “wicked girls” as physically ugly.

31. New Historicism Traditional history is, by its nature, a subjective narrative, usually told from the point of view of the powerful. The losers of history do not have the means to write their stories, nor is there usually an audience interested in hearing them. Most cultures, once dominated by another, are forced to forget their past. To maintain its sovereignty, the culture of power simply does not allow the defeated culture to be remembered. Traditional history is, by its nature, a subjective narrative, usually told from the point of view of the powerful. The losers of history do not have the means to write their stories, nor is there usually an audience interested in hearing them. Most cultures, once dominated by another, are forced to forget their past. To maintain its sovereignty, the culture of power simply does not allow the defeated culture to be remembered.

32. Examining “Cinderella” from a New Historicist Perspective What can we infer about the society in which this story—considering, especially, the violence and vengeance in the Grimm version—would evolve and be told to young children? What can we infer about property and inheritance laws in the society in which “Cinderella” evolved? What can we infer about the society’s view of royalty and monarchic power? What can we infer about the society in which this story—considering, especially, the violence and vengeance in the Grimm version—would evolve and be told to young children? What can we infer about property and inheritance laws in the society in which “Cinderella” evolved? What can we infer about the society’s view of royalty and monarchic power?

33. Postcolonialism deals with looking at literature from the viewpoint of recognizing the differences between cultures and understanding that those differences make us, not different, inherently, but different people of the same race. A lot of what this theory looks at is how people of different cultural backgrounds interact with each other i.e. Do we force our beliefs on others? The ideas of imperialism and trying to convert or change people’s beliefs to adhere to the dogma of a specific, perhaps more powerful culture are part of this as well. Postcolonialists look at literature for the purpose of analyzing the text from the standpoint of racism or religious secularism, etc. Postcolonialism

34. Works Consulted Kennedy, X.J. and Gioia, D., eds. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Eighth edition. New York: Longman, 2002. Morner, Kathleen and Ralph Rausch. NTC’s Dictionary of Literary Terms. Chicago: NTC Publishing Group, 1991. Selden, Raman, Peter Widdowson, and Peter Brooker. A Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Literary Criticism. 4 th edition. London: Prentice Hall, 1997. All images courtesy of Google Images Kennedy, X.J. and Gioia, D., eds. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Eighth edition. New York: Longman, 2002. Morner, Kathleen and Ralph Rausch. NTC’s Dictionary of Literary Terms. Chicago: NTC Publishing Group, 1991. Selden, Raman, Peter Widdowson, and Peter Brooker. A Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Literary Criticism. 4 th edition. London: Prentice Hall, 1997. All images courtesy of Google Images