Critical Theories

What is it?

The terms “literary theory” and “critical theory” refer to essentially the same fields of study.

They both address ways of looking at literature beyond the typical plot-theme-character-setting studies.

Why study critical theories?

Affirm your perspective and speak to what you see in the literature.

Comprehend a view different from yours and those who hold that view.

Gain deeper understanding of the author’s work and a better appreciation for it.

1. The World

2. The Author

3. The Text Other Texts

Real World

4. The Reader

Beyond the World

Text = Objective reality

New Criticism: the TEXT (as art)

Structuralism: the TEXT (as language system)

Psychoanalytic: AUTHOR/READER/text

Reader Response: READER/TEXT/community of readers w/shared values

THE 4 CRITICAL VARIABLES of LITERARY THEORY & CRITICISM

Text = Ideologically constructed language

ITS CONTEXT

Text = Symbol, Archetype

Queer and Feminism Studies: WORLD/author/text/reader

Marxist: WORLD/text

Tradition Approaches

Historical—author’s historical moment is key to understanding a literary text

Biographical—author’s personal experiences are central to understanding the text

Social realism (?)—social transparency is key to understanding the text…

New Criticism/ Formalism

Examines… the work itself as a stand-alone

product and does not take into account the history of either the author or time period.

the universal signifiers (words, marks, symbols) of literature—finding meaning these signifiers.

Little Red Riding Hood

Feminism

Examines…. patriarchal language and literature by

exposing how these reflect masculine ideology.

the subtle construction of masculinity and femininity, and their relative status, positioning, and marginalization within works.

the female experience.

Feminism in context

Using Cinderella… 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.

Lesbian and Gay (Queer Theory)

Examines… the effect sexual orientation has on interpreting a text. What are the roles of the GTLB characters in a text?

Are they traditional? Outcast? Which then leads to who has been outcast– is it

because this character is gay/lesbian (nonheterosexual) roles?

How is the sexual orientation reflected in the text? how gays and lesbian authors have dealt with making

their work more acceptable to the general public.

Psychoanalytic/ Freudian

Examines… secret unconscious desires and

anxieties of the author. a literary work as a manifestation of

the author's own neuroses. characters are projections of the

author's psyche.

Psychoanalytic in context

Using Cinderella… 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.

Marxism

Examines… economic power materialism versus spirituality class conflict art, literature, and ideologies

Marxism in context

Using Cinderella… 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.

New Historicism

Examines… the view that history is not the absolute

rendition of societal events. the past is disputable and uncertain and

may reveal heroic actions as nothing more than despotism.

Key idea: 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 forcedto forget their past.

New Historicism in context

Using Cinderella… 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?

Sources

Abrams, M.H. "Marxist Criticism." A Glossary of Literary Terms. 7th ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1999. 147-153.

Abrams, M.H. "Psychological and Psychoanalytic Criticism." A Glossary of Literary Terms. 7th ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1999. 247-253.

Barnet, Sylvan. A Short Guide to Writing About Literature. Harper Collins: New York, 1996.

Belton, Robert. “Words of Art: Front Page.” Okanagan University College. Posted 2000. Accessed November 2007. <http://www.arts.ouc.bc.ca/fiar/glossary/gloshome.html>.

Murfin, Ross, and Supryia M. Ray. The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms. Boston: Bedford Books, 1997.