18 Questions
What is the primary concern of Ecocriticism?
Understanding the relationship between humans and the environment
According to Postcolonial Theory, what is the primary function of the Western perspective?
To justify colonial control and fetishization of foreign cultures
What is the focus of Material Ecocriticism?
The shared materiality between humans and the environment
What is the significance of authors in literary theory?
They have cultural significance, but it varies across civilizations and periods
What is the primary concern of Discursivity studies?
The power dynamics present in literary discourse
What is the significance of the author's function in literary theory?
It involves multiple people shaping narratives and defining texts
What does psychoanalysis in literature primarily aim to uncover?
The author's motivations and influences behind characters' actions
According to Louis Althusser, what is the primary function of ideology?
To connect individuals with their material existence and subjectification
What is the primary consequence of secondary colonialism, as described in A Small Place?
A shift in government funding towards tourist areas, negatively impacting native populations
What is the central argument of the Death of the Author theory?
The reader's interpretation and context matter more than the author's intent
What is the primary focus of The Epistemology of the Closet?
The relationship between heterosexuality and homosexuality
What is the primary critique of authorial intent in literary theory?
It is limited by the author's cultural and social context
Which theoretical approach focuses on the ways in which power dynamics and ideology influence the creation and interpretation of literary texts?
Postcolonialism
Which literary theory emphasizes the role of the reader in creating meaning, arguing that readers bring their own experiences and biases to the text?
Reader Response Theory
Which theoretical approach examines the ways in which literary texts reflect and shape societal power structures and ideologies?
Ideology and Power
Which theoretical approach focuses on the role of the author's intentions and biography in shaping the meaning of a literary text?
Authorial Intent
Which literary theory examines how multiple voices and speech types interact within a novel?
Heteroglossia
Which theoretical approach critiques the perpetuation of Western superiority and the erasure of marginalized voices in literary texts?
Postcolonialism
Study Notes
Criticism and Theory
- Formalist critics analyze a work without considering the author's life, reader response, or interpretation, focusing on structure and literary devices.
- In Elizabeth Bishop's poem "One Art," a formalist critic would examine the three-line stanza structure with rhyming and repetition to emphasize the theme of loss.
Image of Africa
- Western psychology perpetuates Western superiority by comparing Africa and the West, dehumanizing and excluding the global majority.
- Works like "Heart of Darkness" are questioned for stripping humanity, and films like "The Gods Must Be Crazy" enforce harmful Western mythology and perpetuate stereotypes about Africa.
Discourse in the Novel
- Heteroglossia refers to multiple voices and speech types in a novel, including the author's.
- Dialogism analyzes diverse voices in novels, arguing that the author's voice is just one among many.
- Psychoanalysis in literature helps uncover the author's psyche and understand character motivations and influences.
Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses
- Louis Althusser argues that ideology connects individuals to their realities, with material existence and subjectification.
- Ideologies manifest in religious practices, upholding societal order and influencing actions.
A Small Place
- Secondary colonialism refers to wealthier countries exploiting poorer ones through tourism, disregarding native populations while benefiting from their resources.
- This leads to a shift in government funding towards tourist areas, negatively impacting native populations' lives.
Death of the Author
- The author's intent does not determine the meaning of a work; reader interpretation and context matter.
Epistemology of the Closet
- The work examines sexuality and gender distinctions, arbitrary binaries, and diverse sexualities.
- It explores the relationship between heterosexuality and homosexuality, mentioning intersectionality.
Orientalism
- The Orient is a European invention, portrayed as exotic but not natural, justifying colonial control.
- Postcolonial Theory challenges the Western perspective.
What is an Author?
- Authors have cultural significance, shaping narratives and defining texts, but the concept varies across civilizations and periods.
- Discourses are influenced by the world, and the author's function involves multiple people.
Ecocriticism
- The study explores the relationship between humans and the environment, highlighting concerns of exploitation and destruction.
- Different waves of ecocriticism focus on conveying environmental messages, understanding nature and social politics, integrating the human experience, and emphasizing material interconnections between humans and the environment.
- Material ecocriticism discusses the shared materiality between humans and the environment and its impact on the body.
Learn about the concepts of Orientalism and the role of authors in shaping narratives, as explained in simple terms. Discover how these ideas challenge the Western perspective and understand their significance in literary theory.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
