Literary Theory Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Reader Response Theory

One of the fundamental questions that literary theory grapples with is “what is literature?” This question probes the essence of literature, seeking to define its boundaries and characteristics. It is a question that has sparked numerous debates and discussions in the field, leading to various interpretations and definitions.

The term “theory” has become an umbrella term for scholarly approaches to reading texts. It encompasses a wide range of theoretical frameworks and methodologies, each offering different perspectives and insights into the interpretation of literary works.

Historical and biographical criticism is a type of literary theory that takes a different approach to texts. Instead of focusing solely on the text, it considers the historical context and the author’s life as crucial elements in understanding and interpreting the work.

Literary Theory is a systematic study that delves into the nature of literature and the methodologies used for literary analysis. It seeks to understand the fundamental elements that constitute literature, including themes, structures, and literary devices, and how they can be analyzed to derive meaning and interpretation.

A New Critic might read a poem by T. S. Eliot for its degree of honesty in expressing the torment and contradiction of a serious search for belief in the modern world. This approach reflects the New Critics’ focus on the text itself, analyzing its themes, structure, and language to derive meaning.

The work of the New Critics often contained an implicit moral dimension. This means that their analyses and interpretations of literary works often carried underlying moral implications, reflecting their belief that literature can convey moral truths and ethical lessons.

The different interpretive and epistemological perspectives of different schools of theory often arise from, and so give support to, different moral and political commitments. This highlights the influence of personal and societal values on theoretical approaches, shaping how literature is understood and interpreted.

New Criticism is a broad school of theory that has historically been important. It emphasizes close reading and textual analysis, focusing on the text itself rather than the author’s intentions or the reader’s response. This approach has had a significant impact on how literature is studied and interpreted.

The practice of literary theory evolved into a professional field in the 20th century. This transformation marked a significant shift in the academic landscape, as it recognized the importance of theoretical frameworks in understanding and interpreting literary works.

The debates on the academic merits of theory that took place in the 1980s and 1990s are referred to as “the theory wars”. These debates centered around the role and value of theory in literary studies, with scholars arguing over its relevance and applicability.