Dialectical Materialism and Marxism

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Questions and Answers

According to Marx, what emerges when any group of people engage in the production of goods?

An emphasis on individual competition

A complex network of social relationships (correct)

A hierarchical structure based on wealth

A system of barter and trade

Who is considered the founding father of Marxist literary criticism?

Antonio Gramsci

Georg Lukacs (correct)

Louis Althusser

G.K. Plekhanov

What concept did Louis Althusser introduce in relation to ideology?

Revolutionary consciousness

Class polarization

Interpellation (correct)

Cultural assimilation

What does Georg Lukacs emphasize in his literary analysis?

The relationship between superstructure and base Signup and view all the answers

What did Antonio Gramsci argue about the bourgeoisie?

They control the superstructure Signup and view all the answers

What does the Frankfurt School focus on developing?

Western Marxist principles Signup and view all the answers

What is the core belief of Marxism?

Society progresses from feudalism to communism Signup and view all the answers

According to Marx, what characterizes the bourgeoisie?

Wealthy class that rules society Signup and view all the answers

What historical period does socialism entail according to Marx?

Social ownership Signup and view all the answers

What does the superstructure in a society encompass according to the text?

All human institutions and ideologies Signup and view all the answers

What did Marx and Engels declare in 'The Communist Manifesto'?

Capitalists enslaved the working class through economic policies Signup and view all the answers

According to 'Das Capital,' what determines people's actions and beliefs?

Economic conditions Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of Marxism according to the text?

Addressing class struggle and the bourgeoisie vs. proletariat conflict Signup and view all the answers

What is the responsibility of a critic in the context of Marxism?

Uncover and expose destructive ideologies entrapping working classes Signup and view all the answers

What does Marxism aim to reveal about the dominant class?

Their imposition of ideology and class conflict Signup and view all the answers

In Marxism, what aspect of a text does the ideology expressed by the author interact with?

Setting and society Signup and view all the answers

What does a critic examine to showcase an author's ideology according to Marxism?

Fictional world's characters, setting, and society Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of a text is NOT a central concern of Marxism as mentioned in the text?

'Emphasis on figures of speech' Signup and view all the answers

According to Fredric Jameson, what is the function of literary analysis?

To uncover the political unconscious in a text Signup and view all the answers

What does Terry Eagleton believe is the root of literature?

Social interactions and ideologies Signup and view all the answers

In Marxist theory, what determines who we are according to the text?

Cultural and social circumstances Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of critics according to Terry Eagleton?

Reconstruct the author's ideology Signup and view all the answers

According to Marxism, what does the superstructure of society refer to?

Ideological elements like culture and literature Signup and view all the answers

What does Marxism suggest is the basis of societal conflicts?

Ongoing conflicts between social classes Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of Egypt's first pyramid?

To house the mummy of Pharaoh Djoser Signup and view all the answers

What material was primarily used in the construction of Egypt's first pyramid?

Limestone Signup and view all the answers

What significant purpose did the pyramid serve for the afterlife of the king?

Securing the Pharaoh's physical body for eternity Signup and view all the answers

What architectural revolution did Djoser's pyramid spark?

The construction of monumental structures built in stone Signup and view all the answers

Which dynasty built the most iconic monuments in Egypt, including the pyramids of Giza?

A dynasty of pharaohs Signup and view all the answers

What was created at the bottom of the giant shaft inside Djoser's pyramid?

The intended final resting place of Pharaoh Djoser Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Marxism and Literary Criticism

Marxism addresses the concerns of the working class, recognizing the interrelatedness of all human activities.
It deals with more than conventional literary themes, focusing on the ideology expressed by the author.

Key Concepts in Marxism

Class Struggle: The struggle between the bourgeoisie (wealthy class that rules society) and the proletariat (class of society without ownership of the means of production).
Ideology: The beliefs, values, and culture of a society, determined by the upper class.
Base and Superstructure: The base refers to the economic system, which controls all human institutions and ideologies. The superstructure includes all social and legal institutions, political and educational systems, religions, and art.

Marxist Theorists and Their Contributions

G.K. Plehanov: Translated "The Communist Manifesto" into Russian, making Russia the first country to promote Marxist principles.
Leon Trotsky: Authored "Literature and Revolution" (1925), becoming the founding father of Marxist literary criticism.
Georg Lukacs: Believed that a detailed analysis of symbols, images, and literary devices would expose class conflict and the relationship between the superstructure and the base.
Antonio Gramsci: Focused on the complex relationship between the base and the superstructure, stating that the bourgeoisie establish and maintain hegemony.
Louis Althusser: Developed the Production Theory, which suggests that the superstructure can influence the base, and that the prevailing ideology forms people's attitudes through interpellation.

Key Texts in Marxism

The Communist Manifesto (1848): Written by Marx and Engels, it states that the history of all existing societies is the history of class struggle.
Das Capital (1867): Written by Marx, it is a historical basis for 20th-century Marxism, socialism, and communism.

Marxist Literary Critics

Fredric Jameson: Believes that literary analysis should uncover the political unconscious present in a text, and that critics must be aware of their own ideology.
Terry Eagleton: Thinks that literature is a product of an ideology, shaped by social interactions, and that the critic's task is to reconstruct an author's ideology.

Assumptions of Marxism

Marxism is not primarily a literary theory, but a set of social, economic, and political ideas.
All human actions and responses are related to our culture.
Our cultural and social circumstances determine who we are.
The structure of society is built on ongoing conflicts between social classes.
Capitalists control society's ideology or social consciousness (hegemony).
The focus of literature is the relationship between a society's superstructure and the base.

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Description

Explore the core belief of Marxism, focusing on dialectical materialism and the progression of society's economic systems. Learn about the complex processes of producing, distributing, and consuming goods as societies evolve towards more market-based economies.