Question
What is literary theory?
Answer
Literary theory is a framework used to understand, analyse, and interpret literary texts. It encompasses various approaches, each offering unique perspectives on literature. Here are some key literary theories:
Structuralism
Structuralism is a method of analysing literature that focuses on the underlying structures that govern texts. Originating from the work of Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure, structuralism treats a literary text as an independent entity, emphasizing the relationships between its elements rather than the author’s intent or historical context (Say, 2022; Amin, Rasul and Hamakarim, 2023). Structuralism posits that the meaning of a text is derived from its structure, which is universal and invariant, as discussed by theorists like Gerard Genette and Jacques Derrida (Devi, 2022; Gius and Jacke, 2022).
Marxist Literary Theory
Marxist literary theory examines literature through the lens of class struggle and social dynamics. It considers how literature reflects, reinforces, or challenges the socio-economic conditions of its time. Marxist critics analyse the ways in which literature can serve as a tool for ideological critique and social change (Doecke, 2020; Mahdi and Hameed, 2023). This approach has evolved to include a broader range of intellectual activities and political stances, moving beyond the traditional Marxist focus on material conditions (Ulicka, 2020; Davies, 2022).
Psychoanalytic Literary Theory
Psychoanalytic literary theory, influenced by the work of Sigmund Freud and later Jacques Lacan, explores the psychological dimensions of literature. It examines the unconscious motives of characters, the symbolic meanings of texts, and the psychological impact on readers. This theory often intersects with other approaches, such as Marxism, to explore deeper layers of meaning within texts (Morton, 2020).
In summary, literary theory provides diverse tools for analysing texts, each offering distinct insights into the nature of literature and its role in society. Structuralism focuses on the text’s internal structure, Marxism on its socio-economic context, and psychoanalysis on its psychological dimensions. These theories collectively enrich our understanding of literature and its multifaceted connections to human culture.
References
Ulicka, D., 2020. At the crossroads of Marxism and structuralism in modern Polish literary theory (1918–1939): The case of Warsaw and Vilnius student circles. Thesis Eleven, 159, pp. 64 – 77. https://doi.org/10.1177/0725513620945808
Devi, K., 2022. THE STUDY OF STRUCTURE AS A CRITICAL THEORY: THE ANALYSES OF JACQUES DERRIDA AND GERARD GENETTE. Journal of English Language and Literature. https://doi.org/10.54513/joell.2022.9203
Doecke, B., 2020. Marxism and a Literary Education. Changing English, 28, pp. 133 – 147. https://doi.org/10.1080/1358684X.2020.1848419
Gius, E., & Jacke, J., 2022. Are Computational Literary Studies Structuralist?. Journal of Cultural Analytics. https://doi.org/10.22148/001c.46662
Say, E., 2022. A Structuralist Appreciation of Angela Carter’s “The Snow Child” Glimpsed through a Feminist Awareness. Acta Neophilologica. https://doi.org/10.4312/an.55.1-2.123-131
Morton, J., 2020. REVIEW ARTICLE: Maurice Godelier in the Company of Claude Lévi-Strauss and Emmanuelle Loyer. Anthropological Forum, 30, pp. 192 – 213. https://doi.org/10.1080/00664677.2020.1761291
Davies, D., 2022. All That Is Solid Falls from the Sky: Modernity and the Volume of World Literature. The Cambridge Journal of Postcolonial Literary Inquiry, 9, pp. 1 – 25. https://doi.org/10.1017/pli.2021.33
Mahdi, H., & Hameed, F., 2023. Marxism and literary criticism. Bilad Alrafidain Journal of Humanities and Social Science. https://doi.org/10.54720/bajhss/2023.icbauc34
Amin, R., Rasul, H., & Hamakarim, K., 2023. Reading of Latif Halmats poem(Gorany) according to the method of structural criticism. JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE STUDIES. https://doi.org/10.25130/jls.6.4.2.23
