Literary Theory and Analysis Overview

Definition: Frameworks used to interpret literary texts.
Major Types:
- Formalism: Focus on text structure, language, and literary devices.
- Structuralism: Examines underlying structures of language and culture.
- Post-structuralism: Challenges fixed meanings; emphasizes reader interpretation.
- Marxist Criticism: Analyzes literature in relation to social class and economic power.
- Feminist Criticism: Explores representations of gender and women's roles.
- Psychoanalytic Criticism: Uses psychological theories to analyze characters and motives.
- Postcolonial Criticism: Investigates literature from colonized societies and cultural dominance.

Purpose: Interpret and evaluate literary texts.
Key Elements:
- Theme: Central idea or message.
- Characterization: Development and portrayal of characters.
- Plot Structure: Organization of events (exposition, rising action, climax, resolution).
- Setting: Time and place of the narrative.
- Point of View: Perspective from which the story is told (first-person, third-person, etc.).
- Symbolism: Use of symbols to convey deeper meanings.
- Tone and Mood: Author's attitude and emotional setting.

Definition: Extended fictional narrative.
Characteristics:
- Length: Typically long and complex.
- Plot: Can include multiple interconnected subplots.
- Character Development: In-depth exploration of characters' thoughts and motivations.
- Varieties:
  - Literary Fiction: Focus on character and theme.
  - Genre Fiction: Includes categories like mystery, romance, and fantasy.
Structure: Often divided into chapters; may include various narrative styles and techniques.

Definition: A genre intended for performance, encompassing plays.
Key Components:
- Dialogue: Conversations between characters; primary means of storytelling.
- Stage Directions: Instructions for actors and technical crew regarding movement and staging.
- Acts and Scenes: Structural divisions within a play; typically includes a prologue, exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution.
Types:
- Tragedy: Serious themes, often leading to a sorrowful conclusion.
- Comedy: Light-hearted, humorous situations aimed at entertaining.
- Tragicomedy: Blends elements of both tragedy and comedy.

Definition: Literary form using aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language.
Key Features:
- Verse and Stanza: Organized lines often grouped into stanzas.
- Rhyme and Meter: Patterns of sound, rhythm, and syllable structure.
- Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.
- Figurative Language: Use of metaphors, similes, personification.
- Themes: Common themes include love, nature, mortality, and identity.
Forms:
- Sonnet: 14-line poem, often with a specific rhyme scheme.
- Haiku: Japanese form consisting of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable structure.
- Free Verse: Poetry without a fixed meter or rhyme scheme.

Frameworks created to interpret and analyze literary texts.
Formalism: Concentrates on text's structure, language, and literary devices without external context.
Structuralism: Investigates the underlying structures of language and cultural norms affecting literature.
Post-structuralism: Argues against fixed meanings; highlights the role of readers in constructing meaning.
Marxist Criticism: Evaluates literature based on social class dynamics and economic influences.
Feminist Criticism: Analyzes the representation of gender and the portrayal of women within texts.
Psychoanalytic Criticism: Utilizes psychological frameworks to delve into character motivations and behaviors.
Postcolonial Criticism: Explores literature from colonized perspectives and interrogates cultural power dynamics.

Aimed at interpreting and assessing literary works for deeper understanding.
Theme: Central concept or message woven throughout the text.
Characterization: Focus on how characters are developed and presented by the author.
Plot Structure: The organization of narrative events, including exposition, rising action, climax, and denouement.
Setting: Encompasses the time period and location where the narrative unfolds.
Point of View: The narrative perspective, such as first-person or third-person.
Symbolism: Use of symbols to impart meaning beyond the literal interpretation.
Tone and Mood: Reflects the author’s attitude and creates the emotional atmosphere of the work.

Extended fictional narratives that explore various themes and characters.
Length: Generally characterized by complexity and substantial length.
Plot: Often contains multiple interconnected subplots that enrich the main story.
Character Development: Offers a detailed examination of characters’ inner thoughts and motivations.
Varieties of Novels:
- Literary Fiction: Focuses more on character and thematic depth rather than plot.
- Genre Fiction: Includes specific categories such as mystery, romance, and fantasy.
Structure: Typically divided into chapters and may employ various narrative styles and techniques.

A genre meant for performance, consisting primarily of plays.
Key Components:
- Dialogue: The main vehicle for storytelling, comprising character conversations.
- Stage Directions: Guidelines for actors and production staff on movements and staging requirements.
- Acts and Scenes: Organizational divisions within a play, often including a structured narrative progression.
Types of Drama:
- Tragedy: Deals with serious themes and often concludes sorrowfully.
- Comedy: Presents humorous situations aimed at entertaining audiences.
- Tragicomedy: Combines elements of both tragedy and comedy for a nuanced outcome.

A literary form characterized by aesthetic qualities and rhythmic language use.
Key Features:
- Verse and Stanza: Poems are formatted in lines and grouped into stanzas.
- Rhyme and Meter: Defined patterns of rhythm and sound that enhance the poem's musical quality.
- Imagery: Evocative descriptive language that taps into the senses and paints vivid pictures.
- Figurative Language: Employs metaphor, simile, and personification to create depth.
- Themes: Common topics include love, nature, mortality, and identity.
Forms of Poetry:
- Sonnet: A structured 14-line poem often with intricate rhyme schemes.
- Haiku: A concise Japanese form composed of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable arrangement.
- Free Verse: Poetry that lacks a specific meter or rhyme pattern, offering freedom in expression.