Literary Theory

An Introduction to Literary Theory.

Literary theory is the body of ideas and methods we use in the practical reading of literature. Literary theory teaches us how to read a text and how to approach a text. By literary theory, we refer not to the meaning of a work of literature but to reveal what literature can mean. 

Literary theories are the tools, by which we attempt to understand literature. Take the examples:- Structuralism says that if you want to get a meaning you have to look at the text, meaning lies within the structure. Poststructuralism says that if you want to get meaning you have to look at the outside of the text. Meaning lies outside the text and varies based on the reader. Feminism says that when you read a text you have to give importance to the treatment of women in the text, how they are exploited and marginalized by patriarchal society. It shows that theory suggests different approaches or different methods or different ways to read a literary text.

Theories are the lenses, through which we can visualise and understand the different meanings for the same literary work.

Following are the different literary theories:

1. Structuralism.
2. Post-structuralism.
3. Postmodernism.
4. Psychoanalytic Criticism
5. Feminism.
6.  Formalism.
7. Marxism.
8. New Historicism.
9. Eco Criticism.
10. Queer Theory.

Origin of literary theory.

The majority of the theories are originated from other disciplines or other branches of knowledge, not from the literary background.   Such as philosophy, psychology, anthropology, sociology, economics, etc. It will be very obvious if we list the names of contributors in the theories.

• Jacques Derrida was a professor of philosophy.
• Claude Lèvi-Strauss was a social anthropologist.
• Jacques Lacan was a psychoanalyst.
• Louis Althusser was a French philosopher, etc

The majority of the literary theories are originated from French soil. French intellectuals and scholars were full-time contributors to leading literary theories. For examples: 

• Roland Barthes.
• Jacques Lacan.
• Louis Althusser.
• Simone de Beauvoir
• Julia Kristeva
• Jacques Derrida.
• Michel Foucault, etc.

Some recurrent ideas in literary theory.

1.  Human existence including gender, identity, meaning, the truth all is socially constructed that varies based on the social and political context. Therefore nothing in the world is fixed, everything change based on society, people, ideology, etc.

2.  Language is capable to produce multiple meanings. Therefore the meaning of literary works is never fixed and reliable, which always shifts and confuses the reader. 

3.  Literary theorists did not believe in the notion of grate and ideal.   Any single piece of writing cannot be considered ideal.  Each work arises from a particular Socio-Political situation.  Apart from that, they oppose the tendency of generalisation. Because generalization is always eurocentric (based on white European norms) and androcentric (based on masculine norms and attitude) in nature. 

Conclusion.

Theory suggests different ways to read a literary text. It has originated from the other branches of knowledge. French scholars and intellectuals have significant contributions to the development of the major theories.

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