Introduction to Literary Theory: A Comprehensive Guide for PhD Students

Question 1

In contrast to traditional literary analysis, structuralism challenges the significance of authorial intent in literary interpretation. How does it do this?

Accepted Answer

It asserts that authorial intent is irrelevant to the meaning of a text.

Answer

It maintains that authorial intent is the only valid interpretation of a text.

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It encourages examining the author's biography to fully understand the text.

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It does not challenge traditional notions of authorial intent.

Question 2

In structuralism, meaning is primarily determined by:

Accepted Answer

The text's self-contained system

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The context of the text

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The intentions of the author

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The interpretation of the reader

Question 3

Jacques Derrida is widely recognized as the seminal figure in:

Accepted Answer

Post-structuralism

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Feminist literary theory

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Marxist literary theory

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Formalism

Question 4

Which characteristic is NOT typically associated with feminist literary theory?

Accepted Answer

Universal examination of human experiences

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Emphasis on exploring female experiences

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Critique of patriarchal structures

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Analysis of gender dynamics and power imbalances

Question 5

Marxist literary theory primarily focuses on:

Accepted Answer

Class struggle and its influence on literature

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The role of language in maintaining social hierarchies

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Exploration of the author's personal experiences

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Use of literary devices to convey abstract ideas

Question 6

Formalism in literary theory emphasizes:

Accepted Answer

The text's structure and aesthetic qualities

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The author's biography and intentions

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Psychological motivations of characters

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Historical context surrounding literature

Question 7

Formalism emphasizes which aspect of literary analysis?

Accepted Answer

Autonomy of the literary text

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Author's intention

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Historical context

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Social significance

Question 8

Structuralism views literary texts as:

Accepted Answer

Linguistic systems with underlying structures

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Autonomous entities interpreted solely on their terms

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Expressions of personal experiences and beliefs

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Products shaped by cultural and historical contexts

Question 9

Which characteristic is NOT associated with postcolonial literary theory?

Accepted Answer

Adheres to traditional literary conventions

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Emphasizes colonialism's impact on literature

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Explores power and representation

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Examines marginalized voices

Question 10

Reader-response theory differs from other literary theories by:

Accepted Answer

Emphasizing the reader's active role in meaning-making

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Focusing solely on the author's intent

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Analyzing the text as an unchanging entity

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Prioritizing historical and cultural context over reader experience

Question 11

Deconstruction employs which method?

Accepted Answer

Close reading to identify contradictions and ambiguities

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Analyzing text in relation to historical and cultural context

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Interpreting text based on author's beliefs

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Evaluating text's aesthetic qualities against traditional standards

Question 12

In Russian Formalism, which concept highlights the technique of making familiar elements unfamiliar?

Accepted Answer

Defamiliarization

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Structuralism

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Post-Structuralism

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New Criticism

Question 13

Post-structuralism primarily challenges traditional notions of authorship by:

Accepted Answer

Asserting that the text is open to multiple interpretations, making the author less central.

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Focusing on the author's intent as the sole source of meaning.

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Minimizing the significance of the reader's interpretation.

Question 14

Which of the following is a fundamental concept in Formalist literary theory?

Accepted Answer

Defamiliarization (making the familiar strange)

Answer

Gender performativity

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Ideological critique

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Intertextuality

Question 15

Who is widely regarded as the father of Structuralist literary criticism?

Accepted Answer

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer

Roland Barthes

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Jacques Derrida

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Michel Foucault

Question 16

Which Post-Structuralist theory emphasizes deconstructing binary oppositions and the fluidity of meaning?

Accepted Answer

Deconstruction

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Reader-Response Theory

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New Historicism

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Cultural Studies

Question 17

Who is a renowned feminist literary critic known for her groundbreaking works?

Accepted Answer

Virginia Woolf

Answer

James Joyce

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Ezra Pound

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T.S. Eliot

Question 18

Which Marxist critic famously analyzed the relationship between economic structures and the production of literature?

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx

Answer

Albert Camus

Answer

Friedrich Nietzsche

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Sigmund Freud

Question 19

What is a central principle in the approach of New Historicist criticism?

Accepted Answer

Contextualization (examining texts within their historical and cultural contexts)

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Intertextuality

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Textual analysis

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Authorial intent

Question 20

Which theory emphasizes the reader's active role in creating meaning from the text?

Accepted Answer

Reader-Response Theory

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

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Deconstruction

Question 21

What is a key concept in Cultural Studies that examines power dynamics and their impact on culture?

Accepted Answer

Power

Answer

Freedom

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Equality

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Individualism

Question 22

Who is considered a leading figure in Critical Race Theory, known for coining the term 'intersectionality'?

Accepted Answer

Kimberlé Crenshaw

Answer

Homi K. Bhabha

Answer

Edward Said

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Judith Butler

Question 23

What is the primary focus of Postcolonial Theory?

Accepted Answer

Examining the impact of colonialism on literature, culture, and identity

Answer

Tracing the evolution of literary genres

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Analyzing the role of language in shaping identity