Literary TheoriesLiterary TheoriesSession 1

Literature and Literary StudyLiterature and Literary Study

M. ThoyibiM. Thoyibi

Literary TheoriesLiterary TheoriesSession 2

Literature and Literary StudyLiterature and Literary Studyy yy y

Literature and Literary StudyLiterature and Literary StudyLiterature and Literary StudyLiterature and Literary Study

Literature and Literary StudyLiterature and Literary StudyLiterature and Literary StudyLiterature and Literary Study

Literature: a creative work the Literature: a creative work the Literature: a creative work the Literature: a creative work the medium of which is language, having medium of which is language, having its own conventionits own conventionits own convention.its own convention.Literary Study: a scholarly/scientific Literary Study: a scholarly/scientific work concerned with the work concerned with the work concerned with the work concerned with the interpretation, characterization, and interpretation, characterization, and evaluation of literatureevaluation of literatureevaluation of literature.evaluation of literature.

LiteratureLiteratureLiteratureLiterature

Literary StudyLiterary StudyLiterary StudyLiterary Study

Literary StudyLiterary StudyLiterary StudyLiterary Study

Literary Theory: the study of the Literary Theory: the study of the Literary Theory: the study of the Literary Theory: the study of the principles, categories, and criteria principles, categories, and criteria (standards, norms) of literary works(standards, norms) of literary worksLiterary History: the study concerned with Literary History: the study concerned with the chronological order of literature being the chronological order of literature being integral parts of historical processintegral parts of historical processLiterary Criticism: the study concerned Literary Criticism: the study concerned

h d f l f l dh d f l f l dwith defining, classifying, analyzing, and with defining, classifying, analyzing, and evaluating works of literature evaluating works of literature

Types of Literary StudyTypes of Literary Studyyp y yyp y y

LITERARYSTUDY

LITERARY THEORY

INTERINTER--RELATION OF ELEMENTS RELATION OF ELEMENTS IN LITERARY STUDYIN LITERARY STUDYIN LITERARY STUDYIN LITERARY STUDY

LITERARY HISTORYLITERARY HISTORY

LITERARY CRITICISMLITERARY THEORY LITERARY CRITICISMLITERARY THEORY

LITERARY THEORY LITERARY HISTORY LITERARY CRITICISM

How do we divide literature chronologically? What is drama?

Does the novel have a good plausibility?How is a literary work related to the contexts of the literary creation?

What makes Elizabethan literature different from that of Victorian?

Why do we call Waiting for Godot a masterpiece?

How should a plot be built?

When did Elizabethan period begin?

How was the Victorian Age reflected in Jane Austen’s works?

How should a plot be built?

How did Charles Dickens respond to poverty in England?

How should a literary work be judged?

How did Charles Dickens respond to poverty in England?

How does the life of the author contribute to the literary creation?

How is gender inequality addressed in a literary work?

What makes poetry different from novel and drama?

How is gender inequality addressed in a literary work?

Literary GenresLiterary GenresLiterary GenresLiterary GenresPOETRY POETRY FICTION FICTION DRAMA DRAMA NONNON--

FICTIONFICTION

TTYPE OF YPE OF WORKS WORKS

Narrative, Lyrical/ reflectNarrative, Lyrical/ reflect--ive (soliloquy)ive (soliloquy): Ballad : Ballad (verse narrative), Sonnet (a (verse narrative), Sonnet (a lyric of fourteen lines), Ode lyric of fourteen lines), Ode (celebration of victory), (celebration of victory),

Short storyShort storyNovelNovelNovella Novella

TragedyTragedyComedyComedyTragicomedyTragicomedyMelodramaMelodrama

Satire, Diary, Satire, Diary, Autobiography, Autobiography, Nature Writing, Nature Writing, etc etc

( y)( y)Elegy lament of death) Elegy lament of death) Opera, etc. Opera, etc.

LLANGUAGEANGUAGE Verse, Condensed Verse, Condensed Prose (and Prose (and dialogue) dialogue)

Dialogue Dialogue Prose Prose (dialogue) (dialogue)

AAUTHOR’S UTHOR’S Direct, in the voice of the Direct, in the voice of the d ti d ti

HalfHalf--hidden, hidden, ti di t ti di t

Fully hidden behind Fully hidden behind th k f th th k f th

Direct, HalfDirect, Half--hidd hidd VVOICEOICE dramatic personaedramatic personae sometimes direct sometimes direct

in the narration, in the narration, now and then now and then hidden behind the hidden behind the characters’ characters’ speeches speeches

the masks of the the masks of the characters characters

hidden hidden

speeches. speeches.

SSTRUCTTRUCT. . EELEMENTS LEMENTS

Speaker, plot of thought, Speaker, plot of thought, tone of voice (mood), tone of voice (mood), figurative language (simile, figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification, metaphor, personification, apostrophe irony paradox apostrophe irony paradox

Characters & Characters & characterization, characterization, setting of place setting of place and time, plot, and time, plot, point of view point of view

Characters & Characters & characterization, characterization, scenery (setting of scenery (setting of place and time), place and time), plot theme (and plot theme (and

Speaker, style, Speaker, style, central central purpose, purpose, central idea. central idea.

apostrophe, irony, paradox, apostrophe, irony, paradox, imagery, symbols,) imagery, symbols,)

point of view, point of view, style, and themestyle, and theme

plot, theme (and plot, theme (and costumes, lighting costumes, lighting system, sound system, sound system)system)

Periods of English LiteraturePeriods of English LiteraturePeriods of English LiteraturePeriods of English Literature450450--10661066 Old English (AngloOld English (Anglo--Saxon) PeriodSaxon) Period10661066 15001500 Middl E li h P i dMiddl E li h P i d10661066--15001500 Middle English PeriodMiddle English Period15001500--16601660 The RenaissanceThe Renaissance

15581558--1603 1603 Elizabethan AgeElizabethan Age16031603--1625 1625 Jacobean AgeJacobean Age16251625--1649 1649 Caroline AgeCaroline Age16491649--1660 1660 Commonwealth (Puritan)Commonwealth (Puritan)

16601660--17981798 Neoclassical PeriodNeoclassical Period16601660--1700 1700 The RestorationThe Restoration17001700--1745 1745 The Augustan (Pope) AgeThe Augustan (Pope) Age17451745--1798 1798 The Age of SensibilityThe Age of Sensibility

17981798--1832 1832 The Romantic PeriodThe Romantic Period18321832--1901 1901 The Victorian PeriodThe Victorian Period18321832 1901 1901 The Victorian PeriodThe Victorian Period19141914-- The modern PeriodThe modern Period

19011901--1914 1914 The Edwardian PeriodThe Edwardian Period19101910--1936 1936 The Georgian The Georgian

What Is Literary Theory?What Is Literary Theory?What Is Literary Theory?What Is Literary Theory?

""Literary theory " "critical theory " or Literary theory " "critical theory " or Literary theory, critical theory, or Literary theory, critical theory, or "theory," can be understood as the set of "theory," can be understood as the set of concepts and intellectual assumptions on concepts and intellectual assumptions on p pp pwhich rests the work of explaining or which rests the work of explaining or interpreting literary texts. interpreting literary texts. Literary theory refers to any principles Literary theory refers to any principles derived from internal analysis of literary derived from internal analysis of literary t t f k l d t l t th t t f k l d t l t th texts or from knowledge external to the texts or from knowledge external to the text that can be applied in multiple text that can be applied in multiple interpretive situationsinterpretive situationsinterpretive situations.interpretive situations.

All critical practice regarding literature All critical practice regarding literature d d d l i t t f d d d l i t t f depends on an underlying structure of depends on an underlying structure of ideas in at least two ways: ideas in at least two ways:

1.1.theory provides a rationale for what theory provides a rationale for what constitutes the subject matter of criticismconstitutes the subject matter of criticism——"th lit ""th lit " d th ifi i f d th ifi i f "the literary""the literary"——and the specific aims of and the specific aims of critical practicecritical practice——

2.2.theory provides a rationale for the act of theory provides a rationale for the act of interpretation itself. interpretation itself.

For example to speak of the "unity" of For example to speak of the "unity" of For example, to speak of the unity of For example, to speak of the unity of Oedipus the KingOedipus the King explicitly invokes explicitly invokes Aristotle's theoretical statements on Aristotle's theoretical statements on poetics. poetics.

Nature of Literary TheoryNature of Literary TheoryNature of Literary TheoryNature of Literary Theory"Literary theory" is the body of ideas and "Literary theory" is the body of ideas and

th d i th ti l di f th d i th ti l di f methods we use in the practical reading of methods we use in the practical reading of literature. literature. By literary theory we refer not to the meaning of By literary theory we refer not to the meaning of k f lit t b t t th th i th t l k f lit t b t t th th i th t l a work of literature but to the theories that reveal a work of literature but to the theories that reveal

what literature can mean. what literature can mean. Literary theory is a description of the underlying Literary theory is a description of the underlying principles one might say the tools by which we principles one might say the tools by which we principles, one might say the tools, by which we principles, one might say the tools, by which we attempt to understand literature. attempt to understand literature. All literary interpretation draws on a basis in All literary interpretation draws on a basis in theory but can serve as a justification for very theory but can serve as a justification for very theory but can serve as a justification for very theory but can serve as a justification for very different kinds of critical activitydifferent kinds of critical activity. .

It is literary theory that formulates the relationship It is literary theory that formulates the relationship between author and work; literary theory develops between author and work; literary theory develops between author and work; literary theory develops between author and work; literary theory develops the significance of race, class, and gender for literary the significance of race, class, and gender for literary study, both from the standpoint of the biography of study, both from the standpoint of the biography of the author and an analysis of their thematic presence the author and an analysis of their thematic presence within textswithin textswithin texts.within texts.Literary theory offers varying approaches for Literary theory offers varying approaches for understanding the role of historical context in understanding the role of historical context in interpretation as well as the relevance of linguistic interpretation as well as the relevance of linguistic p gp gand unconscious elements of the text. and unconscious elements of the text. Literary theorists trace the history and evolution of Literary theorists trace the history and evolution of the different genresthe different genres——narrative, dramatic, lyricnarrative, dramatic, lyric——in in addition to the more recent emergence of the novel addition to the more recent emergence of the novel addition to the more recent emergence of the novel addition to the more recent emergence of the novel and the short story, while also investigating the and the short story, while also investigating the importance of formal elements of literary structure. importance of formal elements of literary structure. Lastly literary theory in recent years has sought to Lastly literary theory in recent years has sought to Lastly, literary theory in recent years has sought to Lastly, literary theory in recent years has sought to explain the degree to which the text is more the explain the degree to which the text is more the product of a culture than an individual author and in product of a culture than an individual author and in turn how those texts help to create the culture.turn how those texts help to create the culture.

Universe/Universe/Life

mimetic

Literarywork

objectiveobjective

Author/artist

Audience/reader

Orientation of Critical TheoriesOrientation of Critical TheoriesOrientation of Critical TheoriesOrientation of Critical TheoriesLiterary Work Literary Work Universe:Universe:yy

Mimetic TheoriesMimetic Theories

Li W k Li W k A h /A iA h /A iLiterary Work Literary Work Author/Artist:Author/Artist:Expressive TheoriesExpressive Theories

Literary Work Literary Work Audience/Reader:Audience/Reader:Pragmatic TheoriesPragmatic TheoriesPragmatic TheoriesPragmatic Theories

Literary Work itself:Literary Work itself:Objective TheoriesObjective Theories

Literature is a mimesis Literature is a mimesis (imitation of something) (imitation of something) rere--( g)( g)creationcreationPainting, poetry, music, Painting, poetry, music, g, p y, ,g, p y, ,dancing, and sculpture are all dancing, and sculpture are all imitations (Socrates). They are imitations (Socrates). They are diff l i h didiff l i h didifferent only in the media different only in the media This world is not the real world; This world is not the real world; it i l th h d f th l it i l th h d f th l

Mimetic/Mimetic/I it tiI it ti

it is only the shadow of the real it is only the shadow of the real world (Plato’s world (Plato’s The Allegory of The Allegory of the Cavethe Cave))Imitative Imitative

TheoryTheory

the Cavethe Cave))A tragedy is an imitation of an A tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious and action that is serious and TheoryTheory action that is serious and action that is serious and complete (Aristotle’s complete (Aristotle’s PoeticsPoetics))

Literature is an Literature is an expression of the author’s expression of the author’s feelings and emotionfeelings and emotion“Poetry is a spontaneous “Poetry is a spontaneous overflow of powerful overflow of powerful ppfeeling” (Wordsworth in feeling” (Wordsworth in “Preface to the Lyrical “Preface to the Lyrical

ExpressiveExpressive

yyBallad”)Ballad”)“If I don’t write to empty “If I don’t write to empty

TheoryTheoryIf I don t write to empty If I don t write to empty

my mind, I go mad” (Lord my mind, I go mad” (Lord Byron)Byron)Byron)Byron)

Literature ought to arouse a Literature ought to arouse a ti l ti ff t ti l ti ff t particular emotion, or affect, particular emotion, or affect,

in the perceiverin the perceiverLiterature should induce [the Literature should induce [the Literature should induce [the Literature should induce [the reader] an emotional state reader] an emotional state that will lead to action that will lead to action that will lead to action that will lead to action Literature is a means to an Literature is a means to an end, an instrument for getting end, an instrument for getting

Affective/Affective/Pragmatic Pragmatic

end, an instrument for getting end, an instrument for getting something done, something done, The value of a literary work The value of a literary work gg

TheoryTheoryyy

lies on its success in achieving lies on its success in achieving the aim.the aim.

Objective Objective TheoryTheory

Literature is an autonomous objectLiterature is an autonomous objectLiterature is selfLiterature is self--contained entitycontained entityyyLiterature is a selfLiterature is a self--surpassing entitysurpassing entityLiterature should be isolated from Literature should be isolated from Literature should be isolated from Literature should be isolated from other external elementsother external elements

Literary Theory & ApproachLiterary Theory & ApproachLiterary Theory & ApproachLiterary Theory & Approach

INTRINSIC/INTRINSIC/STRUCTURAL

APPROACHOBJECTIVE THEORYOBJECTIVE THEORY

MIMETIC THEORYMIMETIC THEORYMIMETIC THEORYMIMETIC THEORYEXPRESSIVE THEORYEXPRESSIVE THEORY

PRAGMATIC (RECEPTIVE/ PRAGMATIC (RECEPTIVE/ READERREADER--RESPONSE) THEORYRESPONSE) THEORY

EXTRINSIC APPROACH

INTRINSIC/EXTRINSIC STRUCTURAL

APPROACHEXTRINSIC APPROACH

TRADITIONALTRADITIONAL::••ROMANTIC CRITICISMROMANTIC CRITICISM

••RUSSIAN FORMALISMRUSSIAN FORMALISM

MODERN:MODERN:••SOCIOLOGY OF SOCIOLOGY OF

LITERATURELITERATURE••GENETIC STRUCTURALISMGENETIC STRUCTURALISMRUSSIAN FORMALISMRUSSIAN FORMALISM

••NEW CRITICISMNEW CRITICISM••PRAGUE PRAGUE

STRUCTURALISMSTRUCTURALISMSTYLISTICSSTYLISTICS

GENETIC STRUCTURALISMGENETIC STRUCTURALISM••PSYCHOANALYTIC CRITICISMPSYCHOANALYTIC CRITICISM••EXISTENTIALIST CRITICISMEXISTENTIALIST CRITICISM

POSTPOST--STRUCTURALISM:STRUCTURALISM:••STYLISTICSSTYLISTICS POSTPOST STRUCTURALISM:STRUCTURALISM:••MARXIST CRITICISMMARXIST CRITICISM••FEMINIST CRITICISMFEMINIST CRITICISM••READERREADER--RESPONSE RESPONSE

CRITICISMCRITICISMCRITICISMCRITICISM••SEMIOTICSSEMIOTICS

••DECONSTRUCTIONDECONSTRUCTION

OBJECTIVE THEORIES #1OBJECTIVE THEORIES #1OBJECTIVE THEORIES #1OBJECTIVE THEORIES #1Focusing on the literary work by isolating Focusing on the literary work by isolating g y y gg y y git from other external elementsit from other external elements•• Literature is an autonomous objectLiterature is an autonomous object

Approaching literature by giving emphasis Approaching literature by giving emphasis on the intrinsic (structural) elements on the intrinsic (structural) elements comprising a literary work comprising a literary work comprising a literary work comprising a literary work

(intrinsic/structural approach)(intrinsic/structural approach)

•• Literature has its own intrinsic valuesLiterature has its own intrinsic values•• Studying literature for literature’s sake (art for Studying literature for literature’s sake (art for

art’s sake)art’s sake)art s sake)art s sake)

OBJECTIVE THEORIES #2OBJECTIVE THEORIES #2

STRUCTURALISM:STRUCTURALISM:

OBJECTIVE THEORIES #2OBJECTIVE THEORIES #2

STRUCTURALISM:STRUCTURALISM:•• AS A PERSPECTIVEAS A PERSPECTIVE•• AS A METHOD AS A METHOD •• AS A METHOD AS A METHOD

STRUCTURALIST SCHOOLS:STRUCTURALIST SCHOOLS:•• RUSSIAN FORMALISMRUSSIAN FORMALISM•• NEW CRITICISMNEW CRITICISM•• STYLISTICSSTYLISTICS

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G d B G d B Good Bye Good Bye

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