Literary Criticism

Question 1

is the study, analysis, and evaluation of imaginative literature. - Mark Lund

Answer 1

Literary criticism

Question 2

along with one of its more conspicuous modern iterations, focuses on a literary text itself, aside from questions about its author or the historical and cultural contexts of its creation.

Answer 2

New Criticism/Formalism

Question 3

Key Aspects of Formalism/New Criticism:

Answer 3

1. Close Reading
2. Autonomy of the Text
3. Form and Content Unity
4. Literary Devices

Question 3

investigates the life of an author using primary texts, such as letters, diaries, and other documents, that might reveal the experience, thought, and feelings that led to the creation of a literary work.

Answer 3

Biographical CRITICISM

Question 4

Key Aspects of Biographical Criticism

Answer 4

1. Author’s Life and Work Connection
2. Use of Primary Sources
3. Understanding Motives and Themes

Question 5

has been one of the most productive forms of literary inquiry in the twentieth century. Developed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and his followers, psychological criticism has led to new ideas about the nature of the creative process, the mind of the artist, and the motivation of characters.

Answer 5

Psychological criticism

Question 6

The part of the mind that holds repressed desires, fears, and memories that are not accessible to conscious thought. (Sigmund Freud)

Answer 6

The Unconscious

Question 7

A defense mechanism where uncomfortable or traumatic experiences are pushed into the unconscious to protect the individual from distress.(Sigmund Freud)

Answer 7

Repression

Question 8

(Tripartite Psyche)
-The primitive, instinctual part of the mind
- Operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification for desires like hunger, aggression, and sexual urges.

Answer 8

The Id (Instincts)

Question 9

(Tripartite Psyche)
- The rational, conscious part that mediates between the id and the superego.
- Operates on the reality principle, trying to satisfy the id’s desires in socially acceptable ways.

Answer 9

Ego (Reality)

Question 10

(Tripartite Psyche)
- The moral compass, shaped by societal norms, parental guidance, and ethical values.
- Enforces feelings of guilt, shame, or pride depending on actions.

Answer 10

The Superego (Morality)

Question 11

Represents wholeness and unity within an individual.
It is the balance between the conscious and unconscious mind.
A person who has accepted both their strengths and weaknesses.
(Jungian Archetypes)

Answer 11

The Self

Question 12

The dark, hidden part of a person’s personality.
Contains repressed desires, fears, and weaknesses.
Often appears as an enemy or a villain in stories.
(Jungian Archetypes)

Answer 12

The Shadow

Question 13

Feminine traits in a man (nurturing, emotion, intuition). (Jungian Archetypes)

Answer 13

Anima

Question 14

Masculine traits in a woman (logic, assertiveness, strength). (Jungian Archetypes)

Answer 14

Animus

Question 15

The mask people wear in society.
How a person presents themselves to others, often different from their true self.
A strict boss at work who is kind and fun-loving at home.
(Jungian Archetypes)

Answer 15

The Persona

Question 16

He believed that a healthy person had a closely linked Ideal Self and Real Self. If a person had a significant discrepancy between the Ideal Self and Real Self then the individual would have an unhealthy self image and personality.

Answer 16

Carl Rogers

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The person you aspire to be.

Answer 17

Ideal Self

Question 18

The person you actually are

Answer 18

Real Self

Question 19

When the Ideal and Real Self are closely aligned, leading to a healthy self-image.

Answer 19

Congruence

Question 20

A significant gap between the two selves, causing anxiety and low self-worth.

Answer 20

Incongruence

Question 21

• seeks to interpret the work of literature through understanding the times and the culture in which the work was written.
• more interested in the meaning the literary word had for its own time than in the meaning the work might have today.

Answer 21

Historical criticism

Question 22

Key Aspects of Historical Criticism

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Author’s Historical Context
Cultural and Social Influences
Political and Economic Conditions
Historical Accuracy vs. Literary Interpretation

Question 23

examines literature by considering the social, economic, and political context in which it was created. It explores how a literary work reflects or critiques society and its structures, including class struggles, power dynamics, and cultural influences.

Answer 23

Sociological criticism

Question 24

Key Aspects of Sociological Criticism

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Class Struggles and Social Hierarchy Power and Oppression Historical Accuracy vs. Literary Interpretation

Question 25

one of the most important theorists of the relationship between society, politics and economics. Marx believed that history was the story of class struggles and that the goal of history was a classless society in which all people would share the wealth equally. - related to sociological approach

Answer 25

Karl Marx (Marxist Criticism)

Question 26

Key Aspects of Marxist Criticism

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Political and Economic Conditions

Question 27

a sub-category of the Sociological. It examines the role and image of women in literature, media, art, and other forms of text. Likewise, we can also apply an analysis of men and their stereotypical roles throughout time and how they interact with women and how their image and roles are presented in text.

Answer 27

Gender /Feminist Criticism

Question 28

examines the “universal” elements of human life as they occur across cultures. Archetypes are central to this form. Archetypes are the universal elements occuring in literary works from all over the world.

Answer 28

Mythological criticism

Question 29

literature evolved from studies in anthropology and psychology. They make the reasonable assumption that human beings all over the world have basic experiences in common and have developed similar stories and symbols to express these experiences. Their assumption that myths from distant countries might help to explain a work of literature might seem a little far-fetched. However, critics of this persuasion believe it is valid.

Answer 29

Archetypal approach

Question 30

readers from different periods of time, different cultures, and different places will have different interpretations of the same text. It argues that the meaning of a text is dependent upon the reader’s response to it

Answer 30

Reader-Response CRITICISM