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Literary Theory

Literary Theory. Saif Sarfani Mrs. Walker AP English: Literature and Composition Period:4. What is a Literary Theory?. A literary theory is a body of ideas and methods used in the practical reading of literature.

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Literary Theory

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  1. Literary Theory Saif Sarfani Mrs. Walker AP English: Literature and Composition Period:4

  2. What is a Literary Theory? • A literary theory is a body of ideas and methods used in the practical reading of literature. • Literary theories are the tools used to understand the meaning of literature beyond the surface level.

  3. Purpose of Literary Theory • Literary theory formulates the relationship between author and the characters. It develops the significance of the following: • Race • Class • Gender • Identity • In doing so, literary theory offers varying approaches to comprehension including linguistic, historical, and the unconscious elements of a text.

  4. Examples of Literary Theory • Each work has its own literary theory(ies) for which it can be further understood. • The most commonly recognized are: • Marxism: discusses the socioeconomic and class differences. • Feminism: reinforcing or undermining the role of women amongst patriarchal society. • Post-Colonialism: looks at works produced by colonial powers and their influence of religion and culture. • Post-Modernism: there are many truths; structures become unstable or decentered. • Gender and Queer Studies: discusses the role of sexuality, power and marginalized populations.

  5. My Theory Defined • The Out-of-the-Box Theory is a literary theory that emphasizes the innate desire of humans to define themselves as distinct, individual beings amongst an increasingly homogenous society. • In this theory, characters are often ostracized because of their radical beliefs, opposition to societal norms, actions, and speech.

  6. Definition Continued • In their refusal to conform, some characters agonize within themselves about wanting to “fit in.” • This theory applies to both genders. • The characters in these types of novels often grow as individuals for the betterment of society while maintaining a unique identity.

  7. Example One Sula Author: Toni Morrison • This novel is centered on a black woman: Sula Peace. She’s rebellious, free, and promiscuous. • Sula’s arrival back into Medallion and sleeping with Jude (Nel’s husband) and Ajax reveals her objection to being defined as the traditional, God-fearing black woman and her aim to live life to the fullest. • Symbols: Birds; Redwood trees.

  8. Example Two The Scarlet Letter Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne • This work describes the Puritans of early America and their dogmatic rules and strict adherence to the Bible. • Hester Prynne decides to sleep with Arthur Dimmesdale (in spite of being married) and gives birth to an illegitimate child to rebel against the norms and taboos of Puritan life. • In doing so, Hester could question morals like God, sin, and the role of women and men in society.

  9. Works Cited Allen Brizee, J. and Case Tompkins . "Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism.” owl,english.purdue.edu. OWL English Purdue, May 2012. Web. 5 Nov . 2013. <https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/722/01/>. SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on The Scarlet Letter.” SparkNotes.com.SparkNotes LLC, 2003. Web. 04 Nov. 2013. <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/scarlet/>. SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Sula.” SparkNotes.com.SparkNotes LLC. n.d.. Web. 04 Nov. 2013. <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/sula/>. Brewton, Vince. "Literary Theory.” iep.utm.edu. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, June 2002. Web. 5 Nov 2013. <http://www.iep.utm.edu/literary/.>.

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