1. AP Literature and Composition
“It’s a ‘Thoughts about the Reeds’ Thursday!”
March 12, 2009
Mr. Houghteling

2. Marxist Criticism Background and Examples
Agenda:
Reading Check
Marxist Criticism Background and Examples
Applying criticism to Jane Eyre.

3. Reading Questions: How is Jane Eyre characterized?
Choose one of the Reeds and characterize that person.
3. Describe/explain the “red-room”?
4. Provide one example of how the novel, so far, exemplifies the Victorian Era ?

4. Marxist Criticism
An assessment of the political "tendency" of a literary work.
Determining whether its social content or its literary form are "progressive.”
Apply lessons drawn from the realm of aesthetics to the realm of politics.
Examples?

5. Practice with Theory: In pairs, examine chapters 1-3.
Where do we see examples of text that can be interpreted from a Marxist perspective?
Using Marxist criticism, how can we interpret the text so far?
Identify at least 3 quotes and interpret each.

6. Homework: Read through page 49 or the end of chapter 5 for Friday.
For Tuesday, identify at least 6 quotes that can be interpreted using Marxist, feminist, or historical criticism. Explain each interpretation.