Modern literary criticism
Name :- Gosawami Riddhi parkashpari
Semester:-6
Year:- t.y.b.a.
Main subject :- english
Paper name :- modern literary criticism
assignment subject:-class assignment:- Structuralism
Home assignment:- feminist criticism
Essay:- post colonial criticism
Submission date:-23-2-26
Class assignment
➡️ Structuralism:-
Structuralism (Literary Theory):-
➡️ Introductions:-
Structuralism is a literary theory and critical approach that studies literature by examining the underlying structures that shape meaning. It argues that meaning does not come from individual words or isolated texts, but from the system of relationships within language and culture.
Structuralism became popular in the 20th century, especially during the 1950s and 1960s.
➡️Origin of Structuralism:-
Structuralism developed from the linguistic theory of Ferdinand de Saussure. He explained that language is a structured system of signs.
-)Later, thinkers like:-
-)Claude Lévi-Strauss (anthropology)
-)Roland Barthes (literary theory)
-)Jacques Lacan (psychoanalysis)
helped develop structuralism in literature, anthropology, and cultural studies.
➡️ Basic Concepts of Structuralism:-
-)Language as a System:-
Saussure said language is a system of signs. Each sign has two parts:
-)Signifier – the sound or written form of a word
-)Signified – the concept or meaning
-)Meaning comes from the relationship between signs, not from individual words alone.
➡️Binary Oppositions:-
Structuralists believe that meaning is created through opposites, such as:
-)Good / Evil
-)Light / Dark
-)Male / Female
-)Nature / Culture
These opposites are called binary oppositions.
➡️ Structure over Individual Work
Structuralism studies:-
-)Patterns
-)Themes
-)Narrative structures
-)Myths
-)Repeated symbols
Instead of focusing on the author’s intention or emotions, structuralism focuses on the system behind the text.
➡️Structuralism in Literature:-
In literary criticism, structuralism:-
-)Analyzes narrative structure
-)Studies character roles
-)Examines myths and symbols
-)Identifies universal patterns
-)For example:-
Vladimir Propp studied Russian folktales and identified 31 narrative functions common in many stories.
Roland Barthes analyzed how cultural signs create meaning in texts.
➡️ Key Principles of Structuralism:-
-)Literature is part of a larger system of language.
-)Meaning is produced by structure, not by individual intention.
-)Texts follow certain rules and patterns.
-)Cultural systems influence literature.
➡️Importance of Structuralism:-
-)It introduced scientific methods into literary criticism.
-)It connected literature with linguistics and anthropology.
-)It helped in analyzing myths, folktales, and narratives.
-)It shifted focus from author to text.
➡️ Limitations of Structuralism:-
-)Ignores author’s intention.
-)Ignores reader’s personal interpretation.
-)Treats literature like a fixed system.
-)Later criticized by Post-Structuralists like Jacques Derrida.
➡️ Conclusions:-
Structuralism is an important literary theory that studies the hidden structures of language and texts. It emphasizes systems, patterns, and relationships rather than individual creativity. Though later theories criticized it, structuralism remains a foundation of modern literary criticism.
Home assignment
➡️ Feminist criticism:-
Feminist Criticism :-
➡️Introduction:-
Feminist criticism is a literary theory that examines literature from a feminist perspective. It focuses on how women are represented in texts, how gender roles are constructed, and how literature reflects or reinforces the oppression of women in a patriarchal society. It seeks to expose male dominance in literature and promote gender equality.
Feminist criticism emerged strongly during the 1960s and 1970s alongside the women’s liberation movement.
➡️ Definitions:-
Feminist criticism is a type of literary criticism that analyzes literary works based on:
-)The portrayal of women
-)Gender inequality
-)Power relations between men and women
-)The role of patriarchy in shaping literature
-)It challenges traditional literary interpretations that ignore women’s experiences.
➡️ Historical background:-
Feminist criticism developed in three main waves:
-(First Wave Feminism (19th – early 20th century)
Focused on women’s legal rights (education, voting).
Important figure: Mary Wollstonecraft
Her work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman argued for women’s education and equality.
-)Second Wave Feminism (1960s–1980s):-
Focused on social and cultural inequality.
Important figure: Simone de Beauvoir
Her book The Second Sex states: “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.”
-) Third Wave Feminism (1990s onwards):-
Focuses on diversity, race, class, sexuality, and identity.
Includes intersectional feminism.
➡️ Main Objectives of Feminist Criticism:-
-)To analyze how women are portrayed in literature.
-)To examine gender stereotypes.
-)To expose male dominance (patriarchy).
-)To rediscover lost or neglected women writers.
-)To promote equality in literary studies.
➡️ Key Concepts in Feminist Criticism:-
-) Patriarchy:-
a social system where men hold power and women are subordinate.
-)Gender vs Sex:-
Sex = biological difference
Gender = socially constructed roles
-) Stereotyping:-
Women are often shown as:
-)Weak
-)Emotional
-)Dependent
-)Passive
-)The “Male Gaze”:-
a concept explaining how women are presented from a male point of view.
➡️Major Feminist Critics:-
-)Elaine Showalters :-
Introduced the concept of Gynocriticism (study of women writers).
-)Kate Millett:-
Wrote Sexual Politics.
-)Virginia Woolf:-
Wrote A Room of One's Own, which discusses women’s need for financial independence and space to write.
7. Types of Feminist Criticism:-
-)Liberal Feminism – Focuses on equality and legal rights.
-)Radical Feminism – Focuses on patriarchy as the root cause of oppression.
-)Marxist Feminism – Links women’s oppression with capitalism.
-)Psychoanalytic Feminism – Studies psychological aspects of gender.
-)Black Feminism – Focuses on race and gender discriminations.
➡️ Feminist Criticism in Literature:-
Feminist critics ask questions such as:
-)How are female characters portrayed?
-)Are women given equal importance?
-)Does the text reinforce gender stereotypes?
-)Who has power in the story?
Example:
In many traditional novels, female characters are shown as dependent on male heroes. Feminist critics challenge this portrayal.
➡️ Importance of Feminist Criticism:-
-)Gives voice to women writers.
-)Challenges male-centered literary tradition.
-)Encourages gender equality.
-)Expands literary studies.
➡️Conclusions:-
Feminist criticism is an important approach in literary theory. It studies literature through the lens of gender equality and challenges patriarchal values. It not only criticizes unfair representation but also works to create a more inclusive literary tradition.
Essay
➡️Post colonial criticism:-
Postcolonial Criticism :-
Postcolonial criticism is a literary and cultural theory that studies the effects of colonialism and imperialism on cultures, societies, and literature. It examines how European powers such as Britain, France, and Spain colonized countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and how this historical experience influenced identity, language, power, and representation in literature.
It mainly focuses on the relationships between the colonizer (the ruling country) and the colonized (the country that was ruled).
➡️Definitions:-
-)Postcolonial criticism is an approach to literary analysis that explores:
-)The impact of colonial rule on writers and texts
-)The representation of colonized people and cultures
-)Issues of race, identity, migration, and resistance
-)The struggle to reclaim native culture and history
➡️Historical Backgrounds:-
Colonialism refers to the political and economic control of one nation over another. From the 15th to the 20th century, European countries established colonies across the world.
For example:
-)India was ruled by Britain for nearly 200 years.
-)Many African countries were ruled by European powers.
-)After World War II, many colonized nations gained independence. This period is called the postcolonial period, and literature from this time often reflects themes of freedom, identity, and cultural conflict.
➡️Key Thinkers of Postcolonial Theory:-
-)Edward Said:-
Wrote the famous book Orientalism (1978).
argued that the West created a false image of the East as backward and inferior.
Said that literature helped spread stereotypes about Eastern societies.
-)Homi K. Bhabha:-
Introduced ideas like hybridity, mimicry, and third space.
Explained how colonized people mix cultures and create new identities.
-)Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak:-
Wrote Can the Subaltern Speak?
Discussed how oppressed groups (especially women) are silenced in history and literature.
➡️Important Concepts in Postcolonial Criticism:-
-) Colonialism and Imperialism:-
Colonialism: Direct political control over country.
Imperialism: Extending power and influence over other nations.
-) Othering:-
colonizers described colonized people “different,” “uncivilized,” or “inferior” to justify domination.
-) Hybridity:-
The mixing of colonizer and colonized cultures, creating a new cultural identity.
-)Mimicry:-
When colonized people imitate the colonizer’s language, dress, or behavior — sometimes as resistance.
-) Identity Crisis:-
Postcolonial literature often shows characters struggling between native culture and Western influence.
-) Language and Powers:-
Many colonized writers use the colonizer’s language (like English or French). This raises questions:
-)Should writers use native language?
-)Can English express native experiences?
➡️Major Themes in Postcolonial Literature:-
-)cultural conflict
-)racism and discrimination
-)Loss of identity
-)Migration and exile
-)Resistance and nationalism
-)Recovery of history
Examples of Postcolonial Writers:-
-)Chinua Achebe – Things Fall Apart
-)Salman Rushdie – Midnight’s Children
-)Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o – Focused on writing in native language
-)Jean Rhys – Wide Sargasso Sea
➡️aims of Postcolonial Criticism:-
-)To challenge Western dominance in literature.
-)To give voice to marginalized and colonized people.
-)To reinterpret history from the perspective of the colonized.
-)To analyze power relations in texts.
➡️Importance of Postcolonial Criticism:-
-)Helps understand global cultural relations.
-)Promotes equality and cultural respect.
-)Encourages readers to question stereotypes.
-)Connects literature with history and politics.
➡️Conclusions:-
Postcolonial criticism studies how colonial history shaped literature and identity. It reveals how power, culture, and language influence representation. By analyzing texts from the perspective of colonized people, it promotes a deeper understanding of history, resistance, and cultural identity.
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