What kinds of texts should be valued? Alternative views, post-Leavis More recent critics than F. R. Leavis have valued texts for other qualities besides complexity, crafted language and timeless/universal themes. Many later critics value texts that are stylistically innovative challenge ideologies

1. Stylistic innovation The critic Roland Barthes distinguishes between realist texts that allow the reader to get caught up in the story and forget they are reading - he calls these readerly texts - and experimental texts that force the reader to work to try make sense of them – he calls these writerly Barthes prefers writerly texts because they make us aware of the writing process and so less likely to confuse written representations with reality.

1. Stylistic innovation Read the opening of the novel ‘If on a winter’s night a traveller’ by Italo Calvino and the opening of the short story ‘The Universal Story’ by Ali Smith (born 1962). How does each writer prevent the reader from experiencing the story as ‘real’? What is the effect of this?

1. Stylistic innovation What are our thoughts like? Read the passage from a ‘realist’ novel, representing a character’s thoughts How does this writer try to represent thought? How effectively do you think this text captures what thoughts are like?

1. Stylistic innovation Now read the passage from James Joyce’s Ulysses, one of the most famous modernist (experimental, in its own time) novels written in English. What is the difference in the two texts and which is more effective at conveying thought?

1. Stylistic innovation Now read the passage from James Joyce’s Ulysses, one of the most famous modernist (experimental, in its own time) novels written in English. What is the difference in the two texts and which is more effective at conveying thought? Read the re-written section of the James Joyce passage. What has been gained, and lost, in this version?

2. Challenging ideologies Ideology = dominant and unquestioned ideas about society, especially about class and power Many Marxist, Feminist or Post-Colonial critics value texts that question and challenge dominant ideas about class, gender, race, and other hierarchies.

Critical Anthology Section C – Possible coursework tasks You could argue the case for a text or author of your choice to be placed on an A Level set text list. You could assess the value of a certain text, using the criteria provided in the Critical Anthology. You could argue in support of an author or text being part of an alternative canon that challenges accepted ideas and prejudices.