Master Literary Analysis: Explore Literary Theory and Criticism

Question 1

How does post-structuralism challenge the structuralist idea that a text has a single, fixed meaning?

Accepted Answer

Post-structuralism argues that meaning is created by the reader, not found in the text.

Answer

Post-structuralism believes meaning is fixed and unchanging.

Answer

Post-structuralism insists that the author's intention is the only valid interpretation.

Answer

Post-structuralism supports traditional literary analysis methods.

Question 2

Which literary theory is NOT a major focus of this unit?

Accepted Answer

Marxism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Post-structuralism

Question 3

Formalism emphasizes the analysis of:

Accepted Answer

The linguistic structure and form of a literary work

Answer

The social and historical context of a literary work

Answer

The psychological motivations of the characters

Answer

The ethical implications of the work

Question 4

A fundamental concept in structuralism is:

Accepted Answer

Binary oppositions

Answer

The unconscious mind

Answer

The author's intention

Answer

The subjective experience of the reader

Question 5

Feminist criticism examines literature primarily through the lens of:

Accepted Answer

Gender roles and power dynamics

Answer

Class and economic inequality

Answer

Race and ethnicity

Answer

Historical and political contexts

Question 6

Applying a literary theory to a literary text involves:

Accepted Answer

Analyzing how the theory's principles illuminate the text's meaning

Answer

Simply identifying the theory in the text

Answer

Matching specific elements of the text to specific theory concepts

Answer

Ignoring the author's own interpretation of the work

Question 7

The hermeneutic circle refers to:

Accepted Answer

The cyclical process of interpreting a text while being influenced by one's own biases

Answer

The idea that a text's meaning is fixed and unchanging

Answer

The relationship between the reader and the author

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The use of allegory and symbolism in literature

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic of Formalism?

Accepted Answer

Focuses on the author's intentions and biography

Answer

Emphasizes the text's internal structure and devices

Answer

Values close reading and textual analysis

Answer

Excludes external factors like social or historical context

Question 9

Structuralism views literary texts as:

Accepted Answer

Self-contained systems of signs and structures

Answer

Reflections of the author's personal experiences

Answer

Mirrors of societal norms and values

Answer

Products of historical and political forces

Question 10

A significant concept in Post-Structuralist theory is:

Accepted Answer

Deconstruction

Answer

Authorial intention

Answer

Historical materialism

Answer

Biographical criticism

Question 11

The development of New Criticism is closely associated with:

Accepted Answer

T.S. Eliot

Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Michel Foucault

Answer

Virginia Woolf

Question 12

The term 'intertextuality' is most closely associated with which literary theory?

Accepted Answer

Post-Structuralism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Marxism

Question 13

A common technique employed in Marxist criticism is:

Accepted Answer

Historical materialism

Answer

Close reading

Answer

Formal analysis

Answer

Deconstruction

Question 14

The emergence of Postcolonial theory was primarily driven by a response to:

Accepted Answer

The legacy of colonialism and its impact on literature and culture

Answer

The rise of globalization and its effects on literary expression

Answer

The decline of traditional literary forms and the emergence of new genres

Answer

The rapid development of digital technologies and their influence on literature

Question 15

Which critical approach prioritizes analyzing the connections between a literary text and the social, cultural, and historical context in which it was created?

Accepted Answer

New Historicism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Feminism

Answer

Post-Structuralism

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental tenet of feminist criticism?

Accepted Answer

Women's experiences are inherently inferior to men's experiences and should not be prioritized.

Answer

Literature is a reflection and shaper of gender roles and norms in society.

Answer

Language and discourse play a significant role in perpetuating gender inequality and stereotypes.

Answer

Female writers deserve recognition and study for their unique perspectives and contributions to literature.

Question 17

Which of the following is a core principle of formalism?

Accepted Answer

Literary meaning is inherent in the text itself, independent of external factors.

Answer

The author's intention is crucial for interpreting a literary text.

Answer

Texts should be analyzed subjectively, considering the reader's personal experiences.

Answer

Literary works are shaped primarily by their historical and social context.

Question 18

According to structuralism, literary texts are viewed as:

Accepted Answer

Self-contained systems of signs that can be objectively analyzed.

Answer

Open-ended and subject to various interpretations based on individual perspectives.

Answer

Expressions of the author's unique consciousness and experiences.

Answer

Primarily influenced by the social and cultural norms of their time.

Question 19

Which literary theory focuses on deconstructing language and challenging the stability of meaning?

Accepted Answer

Post-structuralism

Answer

Feminism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Marxism

Question 20

Which of the following individuals is NOT associated with the post-structuralist movement?

Accepted Answer

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Jacques Derrida

Answer

Michel Foucault

Question 21

Which theory emphasizes the social and historical context in which literary texts are created?

Accepted Answer

New Historicism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Psychoanalysis

Question 22

Which concept is central to the psychoanalytic approach to literature?

Accepted Answer

The unconscious mind

Answer

The Oedipus complex

Answer

Free association

Answer

Transference

Question 23

Which theory emphasizes the active role of the reader in constructing the meaning of a text?

Accepted Answer

Reader-Response Theory

Answer

New Criticism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Question 24

Who developed the concept of the 'signifier' and 'signified'?

Accepted Answer

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Jacques Derrida

Answer

Julia Kristeva

Question 25

Post-structuralism emphasizes the:

Accepted Answer

Indeterminacy of meaning

Answer

Universality of literary truth

Answer

Author's intention as the sole determinant of interpretation

Answer

Importance of historical and social context

Question 26

Which feminist literary critic introduced the theory of the 'female gaze'?

Accepted Answer

Laura Mulvey

Answer

Virginia Woolf

Answer

Simone de Beauvoir

Answer

Judith Butler

Question 27

Which is an example of a rhetorical analysis?

Accepted Answer

Examining the use of figurative language in a poem

Answer

Exploring the historical context of a novel

Answer

Analyzing the author's use of symbolism

Answer

Investigating the psychological motivations of characters

Question 28

Which literary theory explores the relationship between language and ideology?

Accepted Answer

Marxist criticism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

New Historicism

Question 29

Which is NOT a characteristic of postmodern literature?

Accepted Answer

Adherence to traditional literary conventions

Answer

Fragmentation of narrative

Answer

Intertextuality

Answer

Exploration of metafiction

Question 30

Which critical approach prioritizes the author's intention in interpreting a work?

Accepted Answer

Intentionalist criticism

Answer

Reader-response criticism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Deconstruction

Question 31

Structuralists believe that meaning in a text arises from its:

Accepted Answer

Underlying structures and binary oppositions

Answer

Subjective interpretation

Answer

Author's intentions

Answer

Figurative language