Literary Theories

It is a literary theory concerned primarily with literary devices and story elements.

• Marxist

• Feminist

• Formalism

• Moralist

Which of the following would a formalist disregard when criticizing a text?

• Mood

• Conflict

• Similes & metaphors

• Author's religion

Which of the following literary theories is concerned with a text's values and ethical teachings?

• Formalist

• Philosophical

  /Moral

• Reader-response

• New Historicism

Marxism is interested in the representation of ________________.

• Marxists

• class distinctions

• money

• laborers

The basis of the feminist movements, both in literature and politics, is that Western culture is fundamentally _______.

• Patriarchal

• Egalitarian

• Matriarchal

• Capitalist

One basic assumption of the feminist perspective is that ______ determines everything, including values and the ways language is used.

• education

• gender

• religion

• race

Which question best applies the Reader-Response approach?

• What experiences of the author might have influenced the setting of the story?

• Do the women in the story go beyond traditional roles expected from them?

• How can you relate to the protagonist's situation?

• All of the above.

Analyze the statement below. What do you think is the Literary Theory used?

In “I Stand Here Ironing,” one can draw parallels between the narrator’s situation and the author’s life experiences as a mother, writer, and feminist.

• New Historicism

• Moral

• Feminist

• Archetypal

This theory is concerned with universal symbols that appear in various texts.

• New Historicism

• Marxism

• Archetypal

• Psychoanalytic

This theory encourages in-depth analysis of characters as though they are real people.

• Psychoanalytic

• Marxism

• Feminist

• Reader Response