Literary Lenses

1. Literary Lenses Approaches to literature beyond basic understanding of plot and theme

2. Structuralism/Structuralist Lens Derived from concepts developed from Linguist Ferdinand De Saussure (1916) Basic Idea: Language is not made up of words, but signs. These signs change depending upon what the majority of the culture using the language dictates that they mean. Each sign is a unit, with two functions1) the spoken sound – acoustic function – this is the signifier (denotation) 2) what someone imagines when they hear or read the word – the signified (connotation)

4. Reading Through a Structuralist Lens “…a sign could not possibly have one universally accepted meaning because there are too many languages in the world. Instead, what a sign means is based on its usage inside the culture that speaks the language. This theory of signs is called semiotics, a way of making meaning that occurs when we read the signs of a culture.” Quotation from Interpreting Young Adult Literature: Literary Theory In The Secondary Classroom by John Noell Moore. Printed in 1997: Heinemann, Portsmouth, NH.

5. Structuralist Lens Binary Opposites and Truth There is no fixed “truth” in structuralism. Instead, individual cultures define and support concepts of truth, which may or may not overlap with other cultures. Within a culture, signs such as truth only exist when they have a binary opposite. A code is developed from these opposites and that cultural code is reflected in the literature. For example: nature vs. civilization (cultural values in literature) male vs. female (gender roles vary by culture) evil (black hat) vs. good (white hat) – signifiers for evil vs good vary by culture

6. Structuralist Lens Using the Structuralist Lens, consider the binary opposites found in Jane Eyre. For example: man vs woman; rich vs poor

7. Deconstructionism Derived from philosopher Jacques Derrida’s theories (1966) Language is a system based on differences, but there is a paradox because opposites cannot exist without each other…each helps define the other Using “the free play of meaning” the meaning of good and evil can be reversed Text “can be read as saying something quite different from what it appears to be saying” Consider “what is not in the text, what is outside the text, what is not said”

8. Deconstructionism “Deconstruction is not synonymous with ‘destruction,’ however. It is in fact much closer to the original meaning of the word ‘analysis’ itself, which etymologically means ‘to undo’ – a virtual synonym for ‘to de-construct.’ …If anything is destroyed in a deconstructive reading, it is not the text, but the claim to unequivocal domination of one mode of signifying over another. A deconstructive reading is a reading which analyzes the specificity of a texts’ critical difference from itself.” Quotation by Barbara Johnson, The Critical Difference. Printed in 1981, from A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, editedby J.A. Cuddon. Printed in 1991: Blackwell, London.

9. Deconstructionism in Literature? Reading literature through the Deconstructive Lens: Discuss how heroic Jurgis would be if he chose to reject the socialist system and become a robber-baron Discuss the characters and plot of Jane Eyre from the point of view of the elite. Analyze JE from the viewpoint of one of the “crazy characters” such as Grace Poole.

10. Feminist Theory/Feminist Lens Developed in 1960s at various American universities Literature reflects and is a product of a society’s attitudes towards gender roles Because our society rewards ‘patriarchal’ and ‘heterosexual’norms, our concepts of ‘gender’ are affected in literature i.e. men = power, authority, rational (Marlow, Jurgis, Harrison) and women = weak, submissive, objects, emotional (The Intended, Ona, Hazel) Texts are analyzed based on those positions of power Patriarchal ideology part of the canon of literature so we can assume: there will be a lack of female heroes, works are addressed to male readers, women readers have to assume male values and ways of perceiving, feeling, and acting All readers can read through a feminist lens

11. Feminist Theory “Feminist criticism is a political act whose aim is not simply to interpret the world, but also to change it by changing the consciousness of those who read and their relation to what they read…[The first act of a feminist critic is] to become a resisting rather than an assenting reader and, by this refusal to assent, to begin the process of exorcizing the male mind that has been implanted in us” Quotation by Judith Fetterly from Glossary of Literary Theory, editedby Greig E. Henderson and Christopher Brown

12. Feminist Lens What types of roles are assigned to the female characters in the text? How and why do the female characters succeed/fail? Which stereotypes are reinforced or contradicted by female characters?

13. Marxist Theory/Marxist Lens Based on the political and economic theories of Karl Marx (1818-83) and Frederick Engles (1820-95) from The Communist Manifesto They were focused on economic, political, philosophical issues – theory adapted later to literature Key ideas for Marxist reading include: History shows that economic and political conditions determine social conditions reflected in literature Rise of capitalism (complex modes of production) led to social hardships reflected in literature Need to analyze how society functions in a state of change

14. Marxist Theory Literature reflects and is a product of a society’s attitudes towards economics and class differences Texts have been used to support/legitimize the power of the ruling class (promote an ideology) Must question if a text is an accurate representation of the social reality or if it reflects economic/class biases Texts analyzed in terms of where the power/money lies (bourgeois, white collar, working class etc…) Looks for the tensions between classes (dominant and repressed) as represented in literature

15. Marxist Theory What social levels are represented in the text? What values, qualities, attitudes are associated with each character? Are those qualities a product of class differences? Who has the power and what is that power based upon? Who does not have the power, and why? What happens in the plot as a result of differences in power? With what social class is Bronte associated? Does this influence their representation of the characters?

16. Post-Modernism/Post-Modernist Lens Refers to changes which have and are taking place in literature, art, music, architecture, philosophy etc… since 1940s or 1950s Still in flux…who knows when its influence will end? Aspects include: Non-traditional structures in literature (i.e. unfinished endings, including a variety of texts, playful use of language) Rejecting authority of the canon of Literature (i.e. untrustworthy narrators/perspectives, anti-heroes) Rejecting signification (i.e. rejected codes of Structuralism – free verse, slam poetry, stream-of-consciousness)

17. Modernism versus Post-Modernism

18. Modernism versus Post-Modernism General Traits in Literature

19. Modernism versus Post-Modernism – Literary Terminology

20. Post-Modernism in Literature? How trustworthy is/are our narrator(s), and why? Are there any non-traditional aspects to the structure of the text that should be analyzed? What hierarchies or traditional views should be challenged in an analysis? Are there any aspects that do not fit the ‘hero quest’? What heroic values are rewarded?

23. Literary Lenses: Seeing Clearly? • Wear your lenses in high school and university to impress, attract, intimidate or irritate others !

24. Bibliography Abele, Chris et al. “1993 HYPERTEXT DATABASE: MARXIST CRITICISM”. English 60A Contemporary Critical Theory.http://www.lawrence.edu/dept/english/courses/60A/marxist.html#marxlit Cuddon, J.A. ed. The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory. Great Britain: Penguin Group, 1999. Glebe H.S. English Teachers. Literary Lenses. Professional Development Workshop. February 13, 2010. Henderson Greig E. and Christopher Brown. Glossary of Literary Theory. University of Toronto. University of Toronto English Library. March 31, 1997. http://www.library.utoronto.ca/utel/glossary/headerindex.html Irvine, Martin. “The Modern and the Postmodern: Contrasting Tendencies”. Approaches to Po-Mo. Georgetown University. 2004- 2009. http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/irvinem/theory/pomo.html Jacques Derrida. Stanford Presidential Lectures in the Humanities and Arts. http://prelectur.stanford.edu/lecturers/derrida/deconstruction.html Meister, Kristen. Literary Theories: A Sampling of Lenses. Como Park Senior High School. St. Paul, MN. 2007. http://www.como.stpaul.k12.mn.us/Lit_Theory.html Siegel, Dr. Kristi. Introduction to Modern Literary Theory. Mount Mary College.http://www.kristisiegel.com/theory.htm Steward, Dr. Julie. “5 Literary Theories You’ve Never Understood (Until Now)”. Mental Floss Magazine. March-April 2005 edition. http://www.mentalfloss.com/magazine/issues/?issue=0402 Tuffiash, Scott. http://old.avonworth.k12.pa.us/stuffiash/Lists/Courses/Attachments/2/Literary%20Lenses.ppt