Literary Theory 2_ (1) (1)

1. Literary Theory 2: Literary Theory is a way of thinking about literature that goes beyond simply reading and enjoying stories. It helps us understand how literature works, what it means, and how it connects to society, culture, history, and psychology. Literary theories are like lenses through which we can look at texts to uncover deeper meanings or understand different perspectives. Literary Theory 2 refers to the next level or second wave of literary theory, which includes more modern approaches that evolved after classical theories like Formalism or Structuralism. This second wave of literary theory emerged in the mid-20th century and brought new ideas about how literature should be read and understood. Some of the most important approaches in Literary Theory 2 include Post-Structuralism, Feminist Theory, Marxist Criticism, Psychoanalytic Criticism, and New Historicism. These theories focus on understanding the role of language, power, gender, class, and history in literature. Key Approaches in Literary Theory 2 1. Post-Structuralism: Post-Structuralism is a response to earlier theories like Structuralism, which believed that meaning in language and literature is fixed and structured. Post-Structuralists argue that meaning is fluid and constantly changing. According to this theory, texts do not have one single, stable meaning. Instead, meanings depend on the reader's interpretation, historical context, and even the language used in the text. The famous philosopher Jacques Derrida introduced the idea of "deconstruction", which suggests that we can break down texts to reveal the multiple, conflicting meanings within them. This theory challenges the idea of fixed truths and encourages readers to question everything. 2. Feminist Literary Theory: Feminist Literary Theory looks at literature through the lens of gender. It examines how women are portrayed in literature, how gender roles are constructed, and how literature reflects or challenges societal views of women. Feminist critics ask questions like: "How are female characters represented?" or "How does the author’s gender influence the story?" One of the key figures in feminist theory is Simone de Beauvoir, who wrote the groundbreaking book "The Second Sex". She argued that women have historically

2. been defined as "the other" in relation to men. Feminist theory aims to highlight female voices and experiences, which were often ignored in literature for centuries. 3. Marxist Criticism: Marxist literary theory is based on the ideas of Karl Marx, who believed that literature reflects the social and economic conditions of its time. According to Marxist critics, literature is shaped by class struggles, economic systems, and power dynamics between the rich and the poor. This theory asks questions like: "How does this text represent class differences?" or "Does it support or challenge the ruling class?" Marxist critics analyze literature in terms of how it exposes the inequalities in society and how it either supports or criticizes the powerful. 4. Psychoanalytic Criticism: Psychoanalytic literary theory is based on the ideas of Sigmund Freud. It looks at literature through the lens of psychology, especially the unconscious mind, dreams, and repressed desires. This theory focuses on understanding the inner world of characters and authors. Critics using this approach might analyze a character’s behavior to uncover hidden fears, desires, or motivations. Jacques Lacan is another important figure in this field who expanded Freud’s ideas by focusing on the role of language and symbols in the unconscious mind. 5. New Historicism: New Historicism looks at literature in relation to the historical and cultural context in which it was written. This theory suggests that a text cannot be fully understood without considering the social, political, and historical events of its time. Stephen Greenblatt is a key figure in New Historicism. He argued that literature is not separate from history but is deeply connected to it. New Historicists explore how power, politics, and culture influence both the creation of literature and its reception by readers. 6. Reader-Response Theory: This theory shifts the focus from the author and the text to the reader. Reader-Response critics argue that the meaning of a text is not fixed but is created through the interaction between the reader and the text. In other words,

3. the reader's experiences, emotions, and background play a significant role in shaping the meaning of the literature they are reading. For example, two readers might interpret the same story very differently based on their personal experiences. 7. Postcolonial Criticism: Postcolonial literary theory examines literature produced in countries that were once colonized by European powers. This theory looks at how colonialism has affected the cultural identity of colonized people and how their stories are told in literature. Edward Said, an important figure in this field, introduced the concept of Orientalism, which explores how Western literature and culture have historically portrayed Eastern societies as exotic, primitive, and inferior. Important Writers of Literary Theory 2 1. Jacques Derrida was a French philosopher and one of the leading figures of Post- Structuralism. His concept of deconstruction challenged the idea that texts have a single, stable meaning. Derrida believed that language is full of contradictions, and the meaning of a text is always shifting. His ideas had a major influence on literary criticism, philosophy, and cultural studies. Derrida (1930–2004): 2. Michel Foucault was a French historian and philosopher who explored the relationship between power and knowledge. In his works, Foucault argued that literature, like all cultural products, is shaped by power structures. He focused on how society controls individuals through language, institutions, and ideologies. Foucault’s ideas were highly influential in New Historicism and Post-Structuralism. Foucault (1926–1984): 3. Terry Eagleton is a British literary critic known for his Marxist approach to literature. He argued that literature is closely tied to politics and economics and that literary works often reflect class struggles. His book "Literary Theory: An Introduction" (1983) is a key text for understanding different literary theories, and it helped popularize Marxist criticism. Eagleton (1943–present):

4. 4. Edward Edward Said was a Palestinian-American literary critic who founded Postcolonial Theory with his groundbreaking book "Orientalism" (1978). Said examined how Western literature and culture have historically represented the East (Asia, the Middle East) in ways that justified colonialism. His work challenged the way we think about the relationship between literature, culture, and power. Said (1935–2003): 5. Julia Kristeva is a Bulgarian-French philosopher, psychoanalyst, and feminist who expanded the ideas of psychoanalysis into literary theory. She is known for her work on intertextuality, the idea that all texts are connected and influenced by one another. Kristeva also explored how language, identity, and the unconscious mind shape literature and culture. Kristeva (1941–present): Conclusion Literary Theory 2 represents the next level of critical thinking in literature, where modern theories examine how texts interact with language, power, gender, class, and history. These newer approaches offer deeper insights into the complexities of literature and open up multiple ways to interpret texts. Whether through Post-Structuralism’s focus on language, Feminist Theory’s focus on gender, or Marxist Criticism’s look at class, each theory offers a unique way to explore literature and its connection to society.