Literary Theory Post-Colonialism

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Literary TheoryPost-Colonialism
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Literary Theory Defined

• systematic study of the nature of literature and
  methods for analyzing literature
• developed as a means to understand the various
  ways people read texts
• most important issues in literary theory are
  authorial intention and interpretive objectivity
• Also called literary criticism

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Literary Theory

• proponents of each theory believe their theory is
  the theory
• In reality, we read texts according to several
  different theories at one time.
• Lens through which we can see a text
• There is no true evidence to say that one theory
  is better than another, but it is interesting
  to decide to read a text with one in mind
  because it can provide an entirely new
  perspective on your reading.

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Sampling of Different Literary Theories

• Marxist Criticism
• Feminist Criticism
• Mythic/Archetypal Criticism
• Psychoanalytic Criticism
• Reader Response
• Historical Criticism
• Post-Colonialism

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Post Colonialism

• deals with cultural identity in colonized
  societies
• Who are we now?
• NOT a reference solely to time, as in after
  colonization or after independence from
  colonists
• Deals with the legacy of colonial rule through
  literature (and other forms of expression)