Judgement and Value

What is meant by 'intrinsic value'?

• A quality that does not reside within itself

• A quality residing within a thing itself

• Value ascribed by a person

• A value that something has because it is in the literary canon

What do we tend to expect about the language used in texts that are in the literary canon?

• It is complex

• It is skilful

• It is illuminates key themes of the text

• All of the above

We assume that writers of canonical texts are...

• Intelligent

• Eccentric

• Flamboyant

• Craftspersons

Language in canonical texts are considered to be...

• Elegant

• Witty

• Patterned

• Controlled

• All of the above

The subject-matter of canonical texts are considered to be...

• Light-hearted and witty

• Frightening and disturbing

• Serious, dealing with moral and philosophical topics

• Political

Which topics are considered to be of universal concern and therefore, the kinds of topics that we would find in canonical texts? Choose the correct answers.

• Value of love

• Nature of evil

• Monsters and witches

• Corrupting effect of money

• Magic

What is meant be political polemic?

• Political humour/satire

• Political support

• Open and heated critical discussion

True or false: Political polemic is considered to be at odds with literary worth and is often seen to detract from the universalising aim of great literature.

• True

• False

Identify the true comments about the literary canon below

• It is still evolving today

• They are the texts that are using to make up the curriculum and syllabi of schools and universities

• They are the texts considered to have the most value

• They are all written by males

Which two terms did Roland Barthes use to describe his view on canonical texts?

• Readerly texts

• Writerly texts

• Observational texts

• Critical texts