Literary TheoryLiterary Theory

Post-ColonialismPost-Colonialism

Literary Theory Literary Theory Defined:Defined:

• systematic study of the systematic study of the nature of literature and nature of literature and methods for analyzing methods for analyzing literatureliterature

• developed as a means to developed as a means to understand the various understand the various ways people read textsways people read texts

• most important issues in most important issues in literary theory are literary theory are authorial intention and authorial intention and interpretive objectivityinterpretive objectivity

• Also called ‘literary Also called ‘literary criticism’criticism’

Literary TheoryLiterary Theory• proponents of each theory proponents of each theory

believe their theory is believe their theory is thethe theorytheory– In reality, we read texts In reality, we read texts

according to several different according to several different theories at one time.theories at one time.

• Lens through which we can Lens through which we can see a textsee a text

• There is no true evidence to There is no true evidence to say that one theory is say that one theory is ‘better’ than another, but it ‘better’ than another, but it is interesting to ‘decide’ to is interesting to ‘decide’ to read a text with one in mind read a text with one in mind because it can provide an because it can provide an entirely new perspective on entirely new perspective on your reading. your reading.

Sampling of Different Sampling of Different Literary TheoriesLiterary Theories

• Marxist Criticism Marxist Criticism • Feminist CriticismFeminist Criticism• Mythic/Archetypal Mythic/Archetypal

CriticismCriticism• Psychoanalytic Psychoanalytic

CriticismCriticism• Reader ResponseReader Response• Historical CriticismHistorical Criticism• Post-ColonialismPost-Colonialism

Post ColonialismPost Colonialism

• deals with cultural deals with cultural identity in colonized identity in colonized societiessocieties– Who are we now?Who are we now?

• NOT a reference NOT a reference solely to time, as in solely to time, as in afterafter colonization or colonization or afterafter ‘independence’ ‘independence’ from colonistsfrom colonists

• Deals with the legacy Deals with the legacy of colonial rule of colonial rule through literature through literature (and other forms of (and other forms of expression)expression)