Post‑1945 literary theory: structuralism, post-structuralism, deconstruction, feminism, postcolonial theory, Marxist and other contemporary theories. - Question Bank
1. Which contemporary theory examines the ethical and cultural implications of environmental issues in literature?
2. In queer theory, the performative aspect of gender, as articulated by Judith Butler, suggests that:
3. The concept of 'othering' is central to which of the following theories?
4. Which of the following is a critique often leveled against structuralism by post-structuralists?
5. What does the term 'agency' often refer to in postcolonial and feminist theory?
6. The term 'bricolage' in postcolonial theory, as used by Homi K. Bhabha, refers to:
7. Which theorist is credited with developing the concept of the 'death of the author'?
8. What is the primary focus of psychoanalytic literary criticism, which often overlaps with post-1945 theories?
9. Postcolonial theory often critiques the concept of 'universality' in Western thought, arguing that:
10. Feminist criticism that focuses on the social construction of gender and challenges biological essentialism is often associated with:
11. Which of the following is a key concept developed by Jacques Derrida?
12. What does 'interpellation' mean in the context of Althusser's theory of Ideological State Apparatuses?
13. In structuralist analysis, the 'sign' is composed of two parts. What are they?
14. Which theory analyzes the construction of subjectivity and identity through social and cultural forces, often questioning the notion of a stable, unified self?
15. The concept of 'the other' is crucial in postcolonial theory. It refers to:
16. What does post-structuralism suggest about the relationship between language and reality?
17. The Marxist concept of 'ideology' refers to:
18. Which feminist theorist is known for her concept of 'écriture féminine' (feminine writing)?
19. What is the primary aim of deconstruction in literary analysis?
20. Which critical approach examines how power operates through discourses and social institutions, often focusing on historical moments of knowledge formation?
21. In postcolonial theory, the term 'mimicry' refers to:
22. Which of the following is NOT typically a focus of Post-structuralist thought?
23. The concept of the 'death of the author,' popularized by Roland Barthes, suggests that:
24. Which theory analyzes how texts construct and represent gender and sexuality, often challenging heteronormative assumptions?
25. What is a central tenet of reader-response criticism?
26. Eco-criticism, a contemporary theory, primarily examines the relationship between:
27. New Historicism, a critical approach that emerged in the late 1970s and 1980s, emphasizes:
28. Which contemporary theory focuses on the study of sexuality and challenges fixed notions of identity?
29. Terry Eagleton is a prominent contemporary Marxist literary critic. What does he argue about the relationship between literature and ideology?
30. Louis Althusser, a Marxist theorist, introduced the concept of 'Ideological State Apparatuses' (ISAs). What do ISAs include?
31. In Marxist criticism, what is the 'superstructure'?
32. Marxist literary theory, rooted in the ideas of Karl Marx, focuses on:
33. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's essay 'Can the Subaltern Speak?' questions:
34. Homi K. Bhabha, a key postcolonial theorist, introduced the concept of 'hybridity.' What does hybridity refer to in his work?
35. Edward Said's groundbreaking work 'Orientalism' primarily analyzes:
36. Postcolonial theory examines the cultural legacy of colonialism and imperialism. Which of the following is a key concern for postcolonial critics?
37. Third-wave feminism and subsequent developments in feminist theory often emphasize:
38. Second-wave feminist literary criticism (roughly 1970s-1980s) often focused on:
39. What is a central concern of the first wave of feminist literary criticism (roughly 1960s-1970s)?
40. Feminist literary criticism, emerging in waves, primarily focuses on:
41. Michel Foucault, often associated with post-structuralism, analyzed the relationship between power and knowledge. What concept did he introduce to describe how institutions and social practices shape our understanding and behavior?
42. Deconstruction aims to reveal the internal contradictions and assumptions within a text. What is a common strategy employed in deconstructive analysis?
43. What does Derrida's concept of 'différance' highlight about the nature of meaning?
44. Jacques Derrida is the originator of which critical approach that challenges the binary oppositions often found in Western thought?
45. Post-structuralism emerged as a critique and extension of structuralism. What is a key divergence of post-structuralism from structuralism?
46. Roland Barthes, a prominent figure in structuralism and later post-structuralism, famously analyzed popular culture. In 'Mythologies,' what does he argue about contemporary myths?
47. Which of the following is a core tenet of structuralism in literary analysis?
48. What is 'langue' according to Saussurean linguistics, a key concept for structuralism?
49. Structuralism posits that meaning is derived from the relationship between signs within a system. What is the term for the basic unit of meaning in this system?
50. Which influential thinker is most closely associated with the foundational ideas of structuralism in linguistics?