1. What’s Theory Got To Do With It? How Perspective Can Change Your Reading and the Way You See Your World!!!

2. “My Papa’s Waltz” The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy But I hung on like death Such waltzing was not easy We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf My mother’s countenance Could not unfrown itself. The hand that held one wrist Was battered on one knuckle At every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle. You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt Then waltzed me off to bed Still clinging to your shirt. ~Theodore Roethke

3. What Do You Think? How many of you believe that any text is written with one purpose, and that purpose is hidden or explained by the author of the text? How many of you believe that any text is written with one purpose, and that purpose is hidden or explained by the author of the text? How many of you believe that your personal experiences determine how you read and interpret your world. How many of you believe that your personal experiences determine how you read and interpret your world. Do you believe that we (the reader) will never be able to know the true meaning or intent of any text? Do you believe that we (the reader) will never be able to know the true meaning or intent of any text? Or do you believe that the author and you are influenced by the world that you live in? Does race, gender or social class influence your reading? Does it influence the author? Or do you believe that the author and you are influenced by the world that you live in? Does race, gender or social class influence your reading? Does it influence the author? Is there more than one way to read a text and/or your world? Is there more than one way to read a text and/or your world?

4. What Is Lit. Theory? Literary theory is the scientific study of literature, poetry, authors, and language. Literary theory is the scientific study of literature, poetry, authors, and language. Theory attempts to highlight the significance of perspective in writing and reading. Theory attempts to highlight the significance of perspective in writing and reading. It is the reason why we revisit “great” authors like: Thoreau, Emerson, Irving, Poe…. It is the reason why we revisit “great” authors like: Thoreau, Emerson, Irving, Poe…. Literary Theory assists the reader in recognizing the importance of language, gender, race, socio-economic, political and personal experience in interpreting texts. Literary Theory assists the reader in recognizing the importance of language, gender, race, socio-economic, political and personal experience in interpreting texts. It attempts to awaken the reader to multiple stories within one text. It attempts to awaken the reader to multiple stories within one text.

5. How Can Perspective Really Change My Interpretation of Texts? When you begin to read critically, you will see that there are multiple stories within any text that you read. When you begin to read critically, you will see that there are multiple stories within any text that you read. Your education thus far has probably taught you to use your experience or to wait for the teacher to tell you what the text is saying. However, with theory you will never need to rely on one method or person to inform your readings. Your education thus far has probably taught you to use your experience or to wait for the teacher to tell you what the text is saying. However, with theory you will never need to rely on one method or person to inform your readings. Let’s look at a story that you are all familiar with: The Three Little Pigs Let’s look at a story that you are all familiar with: The Three Little Pigs

6. What’s The Three Little Pigs have to do with American Lit? What is the point of reading this seemingly childish book? What is the point of reading this seemingly childish book? The reasons: The reasons: Meaning is constructed Meaning is constructed Meaning can change based on who is doing the telling and/or the reading Meaning can change based on who is doing the telling and/or the reading If something so simple can have multiple readings, imagine what stories such as Huck Finn, To Kill A Mockingbird…might yield? If something so simple can have multiple readings, imagine what stories such as Huck Finn, To Kill A Mockingbird…might yield?

7. How Many Types of Theories Are There? There are about a dozen literary theories; however, a final number count is changing as our society, culture, and world continue to change. There are about a dozen literary theories; however, a final number count is changing as our society, culture, and world continue to change. The most common theories are: Archetypal, Feminist, Marxist, New Criticism, Psychological and Psychoanalytical, Reader-Response, Deconstruction, Structuralism, and Historical Criticism. The most common theories are: Archetypal, Feminist, Marxist, New Criticism, Psychological and Psychoanalytical, Reader-Response, Deconstruction, Structuralism, and Historical Criticism.

8. Let’s Get Political Karl Marx(1818-1883) and Friedrich Engels most commonly associated with Communism. Karl Marx(1818-1883) and Friedrich Engels most commonly associated with Communism. Marxism became the foundation for Communist theory. Marxism became the foundation for Communist theory. Although popular in his lifetime, Marxism resonated with the Russian Revolution in the early 1900’s. Although popular in his lifetime, Marxism resonated with the Russian Revolution in the early 1900’s. The foundational belief system that made it possible for leaders such as Lenin, Mussolini, and Hitler to come to power. The foundational belief system that made it possible for leaders such as Lenin, Mussolini, and Hitler to come to power.

9. What is Marxism? Marxist critics base their theory and practice on the following economic and cultural theoretical claims: Marxist critics base their theory and practice on the following economic and cultural theoretical claims: History, humanity and its institutions are based on economic organization. History, humanity and its institutions are based on economic organization. Economic changes equal changes in how a government and its people function. People are in a continual struggle for economic, political, and social advantage. Economic changes equal changes in how a government and its people function. People are in a continual struggle for economic, political, and social advantage. Human consciousness is constituted by ideology, which is the set of values, beliefs, thinking and feeling that guide how we perceive and explain reality. Human consciousness is constituted by ideology, which is the set of values, beliefs, thinking and feeling that guide how we perceive and explain reality. Our ideologies reinforce our economic and social class. Our ideologies reinforce our economic and social class.

10. Why Marxism? Marxism remains one of the most influential philosophical and literary theories of modern time. Marxism remains one of the most influential philosophical and literary theories of modern time. Our way of life is determined by the economic system that we inhabit. Our way of life is determined by the economic system that we inhabit. You can not separate yourself from the economic “machine” that you are a part of. You can not separate yourself from the economic “machine” that you are a part of. The theory also glorifies and examines the plight of the “worker” or common man. The theory also glorifies and examines the plight of the “worker” or common man.

11. What’s Gender Got To Do With It?

12. Feminist Theory Feminist critics look to see how male dominated cultural and economic institutions have alienated women, giving them the “other” status in our society. Feminist critics look to see how male dominated cultural and economic institutions have alienated women, giving them the “other” status in our society. Feminist critics hold these traits in common: Feminist critics hold these traits in common: Our civilization is patriarchal Our civilization is patriarchal Gender is socially/culturally constructed by patriarchal biases in our civilization Gender is socially/culturally constructed by patriarchal biases in our civilization Patriarchal ideologies are represented in “great” literature Patriarchal ideologies are represented in “great” literature Authentic female characters, voices and experiences are left out of literature. Most literature is written by men towards male audiences. Authentic female characters, voices and experiences are left out of literature. Most literature is written by men towards male audiences.

13. Why Feminist Theory? Feminist theory asks us to examine not only how we view women, but how men and women interact with each other in literature. Feminist theory asks us to examine not only how we view women, but how men and women interact with each other in literature. Understanding feminist perspectives will help you to see not only literature, but advertising, music videos, television, feature films, school, relationships, and the workplace different. Understanding feminist perspectives will help you to see not only literature, but advertising, music videos, television, feature films, school, relationships, and the workplace different.

14. A Raisin In The Sun Our reading of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun will be influenced by both Marxism and Feminist literary theory. We will be reading this play through those perspectives. Our reading of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun will be influenced by both Marxism and Feminist literary theory. We will be reading this play through those perspectives.