Mimetic and Pragmatic Theories - Question Bank
1. The debate between Plato and Aristotle regarding mimesis centers on whether imitation is:
2. Pragmatic theories are sometimes criticized for potentially downplaying:
3. The primary concern of mimetic theory is the relationship between the literary work and:
4. When Aristotle discusses 'plot' (mythos) in his Poetics, he is referring to:
5. The pragmatic focus on the reader's role implies that literary interpretation is often:
6. The concept of 'transactional reading,' where the reader and text mutually influence each other, is associated with:
7. Which ancient philosopher was more skeptical of poetry's ability to convey truth, viewing it as an imitation of an imitation?
8. A critic who focuses on how a novel encourages empathy in the reader is applying a(n):
9. The idea that the meaning of a text is not fixed but is constantly being negotiated by readers is a key tenet of:
10. The pragmatic lens is particularly useful for analyzing:
11. Which statement best captures the essence of Aristotle's defense of mimesis?
12. In contrast to mimetic theory's focus on representation, pragmatic theory shifts emphasis towards:
13. The term 'verisimilitude,' often discussed in relation to mimetic theory, refers to:
14. A pragmatic critic might analyze the use of rhetorical devices in a speech to understand:
15. The pragmatic view suggests that the meaning of a literary work is not solely contained within the text itself but is also:
16. Which ancient philosopher's ideas laid the groundwork for mimetic theory by focusing on art as imitation?
17. If a critic argues that a poem's meaning is derived from the interaction between the poem's 'gaps' and the reader's 'wandering viewpoint,' they are employing:
18. The controversy surrounding the 'Death of the Author' by Roland Barthes challenges which traditional critical approach?
19. A mimetic interpretation of a novel would primarily ask:
20. The focus on 'how a text means' rather than 'what a text means' is more characteristic of:
21. When a critic discusses how a narrative structure guides the reader's emotional journey, they are engaging with:
22. The idea that literature shapes the reader's understanding and values aligns most closely with:
23. Which term is NOT typically associated with pragmatic theory?
24. Which term is NOT typically associated with mimetic theory?
25. The concept of the 'hermeneutic gap,' often explored in pragmatic criticism, refers to:
26. A pragmatic approach to Shakespeare's Hamlet might analyze:
27. Plato's critique of mimesis stems from his belief that:
28. Aristotle's view of mimesis primarily suggests that art is a form of:
29. Which of the following statements best distinguishes mimetic from pragmatic theory?
30. When comparing mimetic and pragmatic theories, the primary difference lies in their focus: mimesis on representation, pragmatics on:
31. A pragmatic critic might analyze how a novel uses suspense to:
32. The concept of the 'implied reader,' central to Wolfgang Iser's work, refers to:
33. Reception theory posits that a literary text is not a static object but rather:
34. Who is often considered a key figure in developing reception theory, a branch closely related to pragmatic approaches?
35. In pragmatic criticism, the reader's interpretation is considered:
36. While mimetic theory focuses on the artwork's relation to reality, pragmatic theory focuses on its relation to:
37. The 'effect' on the audience is a central concern in which type of literary theory?
38. A critic focusing on the 'pragmatic' aspect of a poem might ask:
39. Pragmatic theories of literature emphasize the role of the reader in:
40. Which aspect of pragmatic literary theory focuses on the audience's response to a work of art?
41. In the context of mimetic theory, 'representation' primarily deals with the relationship between:
42. The concept of catharsis, as described by Aristotle, refers to the purging or purification of:
43. Aristotle believed that the most effective tragedy evokes which two emotions in the audience?
44. Which of Aristotle's six elements of tragedy refers to the imitation of character and action through speech?
45. For Aristotle, tragedy achieves its effect through the imitation of an action that is:
46. Aristotle, in his 'Poetics,' argued that imitation (mimesis) is natural to humans and is:
47. Plato's theory of Forms posits that the physical world is an imperfect copy of:
48. Plato, in his critique of poetry, expressed concerns that mimetic art:
49. According to Aristotle's concept of mimesis, what is the primary function of poetry and drama?
50. Which ancient Greek philosopher is most famously associated with the concept of mimesis in art and literature?