CRITICAL LITERARY APPROACHES Flashcards
(31 cards)
Different perspectives we consider when looking at a piece of literature. It also seeks to give us answers to these questions, in addition to aiding us in interpreting literature: What do we read? Why do we read? How do we read?
Critical Approaches
Sometimes called “Critical Theory.”
Literary Theory
An informed, written ANALYSIS and EVALUATION of a work of literature. It is the method used to interpret any given work of literature.
Literary Criticism
A literary text exists independent of any particular reader and, in a sense, has a fixed meaning. An INTERPRETATIVE APPROACH that emphasizes literary form and the study of literary devices within the text.
Formalism
Formalism is also called __________
“New Criticism”
What are the 5 Key Terms of Formalism
Intentional Fallacy, Affective Fallacy, Heresy of Paraphrase, Close Reading and Defamiliarization
Formalism is under the assumption of ____________
Organic Unity
A Course in General Linguistics and rejects mimetic theory of language.
Structuralism
Language is a system (_____) that is prior to any linguistic utterance (_____).
la langue, parole
When and where was Structuralism developed?
France (1950-1960)
No ultimate reality or end to all references from one sign to another; no unifying element to all things.
Transcendental Signified (Deconstruction)
Humankind is _________
logocentric
Deconstruction reveals the grammar behind the _________ of the forms.
meaning
usage of Binary opposition
Deconstruction
__________ believed the means of production should be in the hands of those who actually operated them. (clue: starts with letter K)
Karl Marx
Marxism is basically a _________ of culture; and that culture can be influenced by literature.
reflection
Belief that our value as human beings is directly related to class.
Classism
System where everything can be defined in terms of its worth in money.
Capitalism
Observes that religion too often plays a role in oppressing the poor. Belief in God is not the issue, rather what is done in the name of organized religion is the issue.
Role of Religions
Asks us to examine the ways in which our personal identity is formed by our culture’s definition of what it means to be a man and a woman.
Feminism
In any society, the men hold all or most of the power. (clue: Taylor’s swift All Too Well)
Patriarchy
Men – are naturally strong, decisive, protective, rational while Women – are emotional (irrational), weak, nurturing, submissive.
Traditional Gender Roles
“Women are viewed not as independen and are only valued in terms of their usefulness to men”
Objectification of Women
Belief that women are inferior to men; less intelligent, less courageous, and so forth.
Sexism
