Chapter 9 and Lit. Crit

8/2/2019 Chapter 9 and Lit. Crit

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The Savage: Using Lit. Crit. techniques

Starter:

Read over the critical perspectives on thesheet. Which ones do you know already?

LO: to apply at least two critical perspectives to an

extract of text


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Using Literary Criticism in Your Exam

A piece of literature can be read from a number of

critical positions, which means you notice differentthings in the text and draw different conclusions.Even if you dont subscribe to a particular theory,

you always have a vantage point from which youlook at the text.

You do not need to know the names of thetheories for the exam, but you will need to knowhow to approach the text from that theorys view-point and knowing the names makes it easier to

know what you are doing.


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Once we have read chapter 9, you aregoing to analyse the story so far from

one particular perspective using the

cards in front of you as prompts.

Heres an example of how its done


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CinderellaFrom a Marxist perspective

Cinderella is a representative of theproletariat:

Oppressed by her bourgeouisiestepmother and stepsisters, whohave stolen her rightfulinheritance and turned her into aservant in her own home

Desiring to join the ranks of thebourgeouisie by marrying theprince

From a Feminist perspective

Consider:The potentially misogynist theme of

abused-girl-rescued-by-prince

The values conveyed in the portrayal of

the good girl as physically beautiful and

the wicked girls as physically ugly

Psychoanalytic or Freudian theory

Consider:

Cinderella as a representative of the id

expressing desire

The stepmother and stepsisters as

representatives of the superego preventingthe id from fulfilling its desire

The fairy godmother and the prince as

representatives of the ego- negotiating

between the id and the superego and

allowing the desires of the id to be fulfilled in

a socially acceptable manner


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Lets read chapter nine

As we read, take notes on how you might applyyour given perspective

e.g.

lay Lenina, fast asleep and so beautiful in themidst of her curls, so touchingly childish with her

pink toes and her grave sleeping face, so trustful inthe helplessness of her limp hands and meltedlimbs, that the tears came to his eyes.

Feminism: easily

corrupted / dominated

Psychoanalytical: Fulfills the ids

desire to regain lost childhood

and explore his sexuality throughsex with a child

Reader response: curls remind me of pre-Raphaelite women,

who are seductive and symbols of the male gaze in Victorian

art and poetry; Lenina could be the thing that leads John awayfrom his strict morals and Puritanical religious beliefs

Structuralism: patterns created by writer mimic the sheer disbelief of

Leninas beauty experienced by John at this point. Repetition ofso

could be being used to remind of Romeos words when he first sees

Juliet i.e. doomed relationship? Climaxes in his awareness of her

unconscious trust of him perhaps he will take advantage of this OR

could highlight irony of her taking advantage of him?


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Point to introduce

support of

particular critical

perspective

Chapter nine could be seen as the first temptation of John, the savage, in which he

enters Leninas room not knowing that she lies there sleeping. It is a this point that

we get a real sense of his developing desire along with his puritan-like restraint and

caution towards any form of sexuality or carnal desire. When faced with the semi-

clad Lenina, John resorts to his religion and knowledge of Shakespeare to question

his actions. He clearly is faced with a dilemma extending further than respect forthe opposite sex and reaches out to the sleeping girl with the

Embedded

Quotation

hesitating gesture of one who reaches forward to stroke a shy and possibly

dangerous bird

Full explanation of

significance inrelation to critical

perspective (with

cross-references if

necessary)

Here, the metaphorical significance of the shy and possibly dangerous bird could

have links to the albatross, beautiful but ultimately a sign of a bad omen towhomsoever touches it. On the other hand, this bird could signify a wind of

change for John to new worlds and emotions he has only read about through the

teachings of his mother. In his apprehensions, one could draw allusions to the

post-colonial era: in a sense, those considered a lower caste or breed in a new

society have been taught to revere the ruling classes as saviours from themselves

and their cultures (the bird that carries them away?). John could be an archetype

of such reverence, his upbringing as an outsider has reinforced his sense ofbelonging to a culture that, for all intents and purposes, will ultimately reject him

due to his otherness. The reservation could symbolise the old and as yet,

uncivilised world whereas Lenina and Bernard (for all his tendencies towards

insubordination) represent the new, civilised world. Unfortunately, John is not a

member of either of these cultures and is therefore open to oppression from all

sides. Surely, his struggle for identity has facets not experienced by anyone else inthis brave new world.


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Point to introduce

support of

particular critical

perspective

Embedded

Quotation

Full explanation ofsignificance in

relation to critical

perspective (with

cross-references if

necessary)

Your on the other

hand (apply

another critical

perspective to

raise your grade

and develop your

response)

Your turn (with a catch)!


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What one thing do you

want to know for the

future?

What two things do youknow about Critical

Theory and the exam

unit that helped you

today?

What three things did

you feel confident doing

today?

To finish

Chapter 9 and Lit. Crit

Documents

Transcript of Chapter 9 and Lit. Crit