week 1 - the importance of literary theory for readers

7/27/2019 Week 1 - The Importance of Literary Theory for Readers

1/13

BY: JILL (K10)


2/13

LITERARY INTERPRETATION

Critical review on literary theory can assist youpersonally -by supporting points you may make in yourown literary interpretation- from your own perspectives- Enhancing the quality of your reading of a text.

CHALLENGE THE IDEAS OF LITERATURE

For example, some feminist critics review and challengewhat they believe to be sexist attitudes-in widelyaccepted literature written by men or from maleperspective.


3/13

INCREASE YOUR OWN TOLERANCE

When reading another critic's textual interpretation that

conflicts with your own values,-you experience thereading through someone else's perspective and hence -have the opportunity to increase your own tolerance fordiffering ideas.

CAREER ENHANCEMENT

People get involved in the literature field poet, critics


4/13

CONSIDERATIONS

An understanding of historical literary may also provide

insight on past cultures-Readers often assume thatwhat's true today was true in the past-but certain formsof literary criticism place writings in their propercontext.


5/13

BY: DEANNE DHARSHINNEE A/P DORETT


6/13

MARXIST CRITICISM Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

having a classless society based on mutual ownership

of the means of production, distribution and exchange Marxism looks for concrete, scientific, logical

explanations of the world of observable fact

struggle of different social classes because of the

economic, social and political advantage


7/13

those who owns the means of production, thebourgeoisie and those being a propertyless proletariatselling their labour to survive fundamental classdivision of capitalism

capitalism worker is a free agent and the sale oflabour is a free and fair contract


8/13

surplus value is lesser than the worker receives for it

surplus value is realised in monetary form through the

selling of goods economics is the base while the superstructure

comprises of social, political and ideological realities


9/13

BY: HEMALATHA A/P DEVARAJOO

NOR FARHANA BINTI MOHD FADZEE


10/13

POWERFUL AND POWERLESS

CHARACTERS Old Phoenix (Powerless character) Oppressed because she is a black She was not respected although she was old

Attendant (Powerful character) Feels superior because she is a white She scolds Old Phoenix as she did not answer her

questions properly


11/13

ALIENATION The whites live in town where they are well equipped

with facilities such as clinics and playground.

The blacks had to live in rural areas where they haveno facilities at all.

Eg: Old Phoenix had to travel all the way from her house

to the town to buy medicine for her grandson.


12/13

LEVEL OF LUXURY Old Phoenix (Poor)- She stole a nickel from the white

hunter. Later, in town, the nurse asks if she could givePhoenix a few pennies. Phoenix says, "Five pennies is a

nickel." This is as close to begging as Phoenix mostlikely has ever come, but she needs another nickel toadd to the one she has stolen so that she can buy a toyfor her grandson.

The Natchez pedestrian (Rich)- She had many giftboxes with her. She is rich enough to buy manypresents whereas Phoenix was begging for a nickel tobuy a paper windmill for her grandson.


13/13

CHANGES IN LIFE Old Phoenix(the blacks) are not allowed to experience

the changes that the bourgeoisie have gone through

Eg: She still lives in rural area whereas the whites live inurban area.

week 1 - the importance of literary theory for readers

Documents