According to historical criticism, how do time periods influence literature?

They change how people think and view the world

How does the setting of Of Mice and Men during the Great Depression influence the characters and their struggles?

It shapes their dreams and hardships due to economic instability

How does the circular structure of Of Mice and Men contribute to the story’s themes?

It highlights the inevitability of their struggles and failure

How does feminist criticism view the portrayal of women in Western civilization's historical texts?

Women are portrayed as the origin of sin and death

According to the Marxist Theory, what role does literature play in society?

It reflects culture and can instigate revolution

In formalism, what aspects of a literary work are the primary focus for analysis?

The work’s form, diction, and unity

How does Of Mice and Men portray women within the context of a patriarchal society?

Women (ex Curley's Wife) are defined by their relationship to men

What role do social values play in historical criticism?

They influence both the way a piece is written and intellectual beliefs

How do the different lenses of literary theory help students?

They help students focus on specific aspects of a work they find important

What is a basic way to think about literary theory?

As different lenses critics use to view and analyze literature

Which character represents the oppression of those with little power?

Curley's wife, who is marginalized and isolated

In a Marxist view, what does the concept of oppression in society suggest?

That there is an inherent pecking order in any group of people

In formalist criticism, how is a literary work viewed in relation to its author and culture?

It is seen as a separate entity, not linked to the author or culture

How does the riverbank scene at the beginning and end of the novel resemble the archetype of the Garden of Eden?

It represents ideal innocence before a fall

According to feminist criticism, how are women often depicted in a patriarchal society?

As marginalized and defined only by their difference from male norms

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Literary Theory and Criticism

15 termsStudBud Administration152 plays

Explore the fundamental concepts of literary theory and the ways in which different lenses can enhance our understanding of literature.

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Questions 15

Answers

1
According to historical criticism, how do time periods influence literature?
They make literature more complicated
They change how people think and view the world
They ignore social values and intellectual beliefs
They focus only on the author’s personal experiences
2
How does the setting of Of Mice and Men during the Great Depression influence the characters and their struggles?
It leads to a world of constant celebration and joy
It shapes their dreams and hardships due to economic instability
It provides characters with easy access to wealth and success
It creates a society where everyone has equal opportunities
3
How does the circular structure of Of Mice and Men contribute to the story’s themes?
It introduces new characters who change the story
It shows the characters’ growth and success
It leads to a clear and happy ending for all
It highlights the inevitability of their struggles and failure
4
How does feminist criticism view the portrayal of women in Western civilization's historical texts?
Women are ignored completely in historical texts
Women are portrayed as the origin of sin and death
Women are depicted as equals to men in every respect
Women are always portrayed as the heroes of history
5
According to the Marxist Theory, what role does literature play in society?
It always supports the status quo without question
It is only a form of entertainment
It reflects culture and can instigate revolution
It has no impact on social or political issues
6
In formalism, what aspects of a literary work are the primary focus for analysis?
The work’s form, diction, and unity
The author’s biography and background
The reader’s interpretation and emotional reaction
The historical context of the story
7
How does Of Mice and Men portray women within the context of a patriarchal society?
Women are depicted as powerful figures who shape the characters' destinies
Women (ex Curley's Wife) are defined by their relationship to men
Women are largely absent and have little impact on the story
Women are seen as the central characters driving the plot forward
8
What role do social values play in historical criticism?
They limit the range of themes explored in literature
They have no impact on how a piece of literature is written
They influence both the way a piece is written and intellectual beliefs
They only influence the structure of the writing
9
How do the different lenses of literary theory help students?
They make books more difficult to understand
They force students to read books in the same way
They help students focus on specific aspects of a work they find important
They encourage students to avoid personal opinions
10
What is a basic way to think about literary theory?
As a collection of personal opinions about a book
As a set of rules that all writers must follow
As different lenses critics use to view and analyze literature
As a way to predict the future of literature
11
Which character represents the oppression of those with little power?
Lennie, who has power over land and wealth
Slim, who holds most power and wealth
Curley's wife, who is marginalized and isolated
George, who controls his own fate
12
In a Marxist view, what does the concept of oppression in society suggest?
That all people are treated equally in any social group
That there is an inherent pecking order in any group of people
That culture has no effect on people's relationships
That wealth and power are equally distributed among all individuals
13
In formalist criticism, how is a literary work viewed in relation to its author and culture?
It is seen as a separate entity, not linked to the author or culture
It is deeply connected to the author’s life and cultural context
It reflects the personal experiences of the author
It depends on the reader’s emotional reaction
14
How does the riverbank scene at the beginning and end of the novel resemble the archetype of the Garden of Eden?
It is a place of peace and eternal happiness
It symbolizes a place of spiritual change
It is a place of constant conflict
It represents ideal innocence before a fall
15
According to feminist criticism, how are women often depicted in a patriarchal society?
As the central figures in all major decisions
As the creators and leaders of social change
As marginalized and defined only by their difference from male norms
As equal partners in all social, economic, and political matters

Literary Theory and Criticism Flashcards | StudBud