| English 1B Gavilan College |
| Overview of Literary Theory |
Formalist Theory and New Criticism Analysis based on the idea that the form of a piece of literature will echo or somehow illuminate its content. By analysizing the formal elements of a text, such as plot, character, setting, symbolism, theme, imagery, point of view, tone and style (among others), a reader can arrive at an interpretation of the text. |
Biographical/Historical Theory Analysis based on the idea that a person's life and times influence his or her work. When considering biographical theory, look at the following aspects of an author's identity: class, race, ethnicity, sex and/or gender, sexual orientation, family history, religious and/or political beliefs, education, nationality (this just for starters!) Historical theorists believe that w riters react to cultural, historical and intellectual trends, and work to either uphold or subvert those trends. A historical critic will often concern himself with the way a work or writer would have affected his or her original audience. |
Psychoanalytic Theory Analysis based on the idea that modern psychology has influenced how we interpret art and literature. In this sense, literature becomes a kind of dream, expressive of psychological concerns or development of either the author or the intended audience. As such, literature not only reflects the human psyche, it also provides clues for breaking the code enacted by the subconscious, thereby providing us greater insight into ourselves as humans. |
Mythological Theory Analysis based on the idea that art and literature evoke deep and universal responses in readers, no matter what age or culture they are from. Human beings use mythology as a way of representing themselves and their experiences symbolically. The mythological critic considers literature to reveal human desires, fears and expectations, and will use a text as a lens through which to interpret how particular cultures, or human beings in general, view themselves and their place in the world. |
Sociological or Cultural Theory Analysis based on the idea that art is a way of making a political statement, and that examination of a text will reveal some of the social, economic and political structures of a particular culture. Feminist theory - concerns itself with the representation in literature of "masculine" and "feminine", and with the social and cultural implications of these representations. A feminist critic examines a text for themes about gender and sex, including gender and sex roles, ideals of masculinity and femininity, and rebellion against or acceptance of these ideals and roles. Marxist theory - argues that language can be a tool by which members of one class can hold power over others. A Marxist critic e xamines texts forl themes of social justice, class structure, and the unequal distribution of resources and social status, among others. Race Theory - examines representations of race and/or ethnicity in a text, and with the social and cultural implications of these representations. A race theorist will examine texts for racial stereotypes, themes of ineqalities based on race or ethnicity, and racial identity and affiliation. Queer Theory - examines the representation of sexual orientation in a text, and with the social and cultural implications of these representations. A queer theorist will examine a text for themes of heterosexual privelege, sexual identity and affiliation, homoerotic imagery (either latent or articulated) and power imbalances based on sexual orientation. Colonial Theory - concerns itself with power imbalances caused by one culture subverting or dominating another. Examines a text to reveal themes of culture clash, political power and cultural stereotypes, among others. |
Reader Response Theory Analysis based on the idea that reading is a creative act, just as much as writing is. In this theory, a reader's response is just as important, if not more important, than the text itself. A reader response theorist will examine not just how readers (or a particular reader, either hypothetical or actual) react to texts, but also how they intrepet or assign meaning to certain elements of a text. The process of making meaning from a text is the central concern of this kind of theorist. |
Desconstruction Analysis based on the idea that there is no such thing as an intrinsic meaning in a text. Deconstruction theorists recognize the inherent instability of language, and its inablity to represent "truth" or "reality". Deconstructing a text consists of identifying the multiple and often contradictory meanings that can be extracted from a text, with the goal of demonstrating the impossibility of finding a single obejctive meaning in a text. |