Literary Criticism Perspectives

Literary Criticism Perspectives

• Marxist Criticism: Analyzes literature through the lens of social, cultural, and political contexts. Focuses on the political impact of works (supporting or challenging existing structures) and, for older literature, on its depiction of social settings. Aims to expose explicit and implicit assumptions about social and economic justice issues.
  • Key Terms: Propaganda (information, ideas, rumors spread to influence), oppression (cruel or unjust treatment), alienation (feeling disconnected), ideology (a body of ideas), utopia (an ideally perfect place), diction (word choice—e.g., "uprising," "revolution," "oppression").

Psychoanalytic Criticism

• Emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind in shaping literary works and characters.
  • Key Terms:
    • Conscious mind: Awareness of the present moment.
    • ID: Unconscious desires seeking immediate gratification (food, aggression, sex).
    • Ego: Constraints on immediate gratification imposed by societal norms and values.
    • Superego: Internalized societal norms, values, and morality, leading to feelings of guilt or shame.
      • Conscience: Internalization of punishments.
      • Ego Ideal: Internalization of positive models & rewards.
    • Status quo: Maintaining existing social structures (those in power often support this to maintain their authority).
    • False consciousness: Misunderstanding of social class interests

Feminist Criticism

• Examines gender representation in literature, frequently identifying female characters as positioned in subservient roles.
  • Key Terms: Patriarchy (men holding authority), objectification (treating someone as an object), stereotypes (generalized beliefs about a group—e.g., females as mothers, needy, artistic, ladylike, irrational).

Postcolonial Criticism

• Analyzes literature created after colonial rule, considering themes of colonialism, anti-colonialism, and hybrid identities.
  • Key Terms: Colonialism (domination by a stronger nation), anti-colonialism (resistance to colonialism), Eurocentrism (a European viewpoint), subaltern (those outside the dominant power structure), hybrid identity (existing in multiple cultures), diaspora (dispersal of a people), appropriation (adoption of aspects of another culture), binary (classification into two distinct categories), Aboriginal/Indigenous people (those originating in a specific land).

Other Key Terms

• Electra Complex: Daughter's conflict with mother; Peter Pan Complex: Avoiding adulthood; Heracles Complex: Overcoming challenges; Jocasta Complex: Mother's conflict with daughter; Cinderella Complex: Dependency on others. Oedipus Complex: Son's conflict with father.
• Repression: Subconscious blocking of thoughts; Projection: Attributing feelings to others; Misogyny: Dislike of women; Misandry: Dislike of men; Sex vs. Gender: Biological differences versus social roles; Dehumanization: Depriving someone of their humanity.

Unit 2: Macbeth

• Key Terms & Concepts:
  • Tragic Hero: Character with a fatal flaw leading to downfall.
  • Pathetic Fallacy: Attributing human emotions to nature.
  • Catharsis: Emotional release through drama.
  • Soliloquy: Character speaking thoughts aloud alone.
  • Aside: Remark to audience overheard by others.
  • Dramatic Irony: Audience awareness surpassing character understanding.
  • Nemesis: Agent of downfall or punishment.
  • Great Chain of Being: Hierarchical structure of all entities.

Unit 3: The Great Gatsby

• Literary Devices:
  • Metaphor: Direct comparison between unrelated things.
  • Simile: Comparison using "as" or "like".
  • Foreshadowing: Hints about future events.
  • Allusion: Indirect reference to a person or event.
  • Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds.
  • Personification: Human qualities to non-human things.
  • Imagery: Sensory language.
  • Oxymoron: Contradictory terms together.
  • Hyperbole: Exaggerated statements.
  • Anaphora: Repetition at beginning of phrases.
  • Repetition: Repeated words for emphasis.
  • Flashback: Events from the past.
  • Paradox: Seemingly contradictory but truthful statements.

Explore different approaches to literary criticism, focusing on Marxist and Psychoanalytic perspectives. This quiz will help you understand the underlying theories and key terms that shape how literature is analyzed through social, cultural, and psychological lenses.