Literary Theory: Master Literary Analysis and Criticism

Question 1

Which literary theory focuses on the inherent qualities of a literary text, such as its form, structure, and language?

Accepted Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Post-structuralism

Answer

Marxism

Question 2

The concept of binary oppositions is a fundamental aspect of which literary theory?

Accepted Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Post-structuralism

Answer

Feminist Theory

Question 3

The idea that language is arbitrary and does not inherently reflect reality is a key concept in which literary theory?

Accepted Answer

Post-structuralism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Marxist Theory

Question 4

Deconstruction, a critical approach that seeks to expose hidden assumptions and power dynamics in texts, is associated with which literary theory?

Accepted Answer

Post-structuralism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Feminist Theory

Question 5

The idea that a text can have multiple valid interpretations and that meaning is not fixed is a fundamental principle of which literary theory?

Accepted Answer

Reader-Response Theory

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Post-colonial Theory

Question 6

The concept of the 'death of the author' is closely associated with which literary theory?

Accepted Answer

Post-structuralism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

New Historicism

Question 7

According to structuralism, literary texts can be analyzed as:

Accepted Answer

Systems of interconnected elements and structures

Answer

Expressions of individual consciousness

Answer

Reflections of social and historical context

Answer

Arbitrary and meaningless sequences of words

Question 8

Which literary theory emphasizes the role of the reader in constructing meaning from the text?

Accepted Answer

Post-structuralism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

New Criticism

Answer

Formalism

Question 9

What is a potential limitation of the formalist approach to literary analysis?

Accepted Answer

It can neglect the significance of historical and cultural context.

Answer

It can oversimplify the complexity of literary texts.

Answer

It can be subjective and open to multiple interpretations.

Answer

It can fail to consider the author's intention.

Question 10

How does structuralism contribute to our understanding of literary conventions?

Accepted Answer

By revealing the underlying patterns and structures that govern literary works.

Answer

By highlighting the unique and distinctive qualities of each individual text.

Answer

By emphasizing the importance of the author's biography in interpreting a work.

Answer

By rejecting the notion of literary conventions and focusing on the reader's experience.

Question 11

How does post-structuralism challenge traditional notions of literary meaning?

Accepted Answer

By arguing that meaning is fluid and unstable, dependent on the reader's perspective.

Answer

By privileging the author's intention as the sole determinant of meaning.

Answer

By proposing that literary texts have a single, fixed meaning that can be objectively identified.

Answer

By rejecting the idea of meaning altogether and focusing on the text's aesthetic qualities.

Question 12

Which literary theory is closely associated with the use of close reading and textual analysis?

Accepted Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Post-structuralism

Answer

Marxist criticism

Question 13

How has post-structuralism influenced the field of literary criticism?

Accepted Answer

By challenging established canons and opening up new perspectives on marginalized voices.

Answer

By promoting a more conservative approach to literary analysis.

Answer

By emphasizing the importance of historical and biographical context.

Answer

By reinforcing the traditional focus on the author's intention.

Question 14

What is a potential benefit of applying literary theories to the analysis of literary texts?

Accepted Answer

Providing a framework for understanding and interpreting complex works.

Answer

Simplifying the process of literary analysis.

Answer

Ensuring that all readers will agree on the meaning of a text.

Answer

Eliminating the need for personal interpretation.

Question 15

Which principle underlies formalism, prioritizing the analysis of the text itself over external factors?

Accepted Answer

Focus on textual analysis

Answer

Authorial intent determines meaning

Answer

Structural significance over content

Answer

Literature as a tool for social change

Question 16

Structuralism perceives a text as:

Accepted Answer

A cohesive system of signs

Answer

A collection of isolated elements

Answer

A reflection of the author's perspective

Answer

A direct representation of reality

Question 17

Which critique accurately describes a limitation of post-structuralism?

Accepted Answer

Detrimental influence on clarity and objectivity

Answer

Emphasis on meaning's instability

Answer

Diminished attention to authorial intent

Answer

Promotion of nihilism

Question 18

How does formalism differ from structuralism in its focus?

Accepted Answer

Formalism emphasizes text's form, while structuralism emphasizes its content.

Answer

Structuralism emphasizes text's form, while formalism emphasizes its content.

Answer

Formalism highlights authorial intent, while structuralism emphasizes reader response.

Answer

Structuralism emphasizes reader response, while formalism highlights authorial intent.

Question 19

Which interpretation exemplifies a post-structuralist reading of a text?

Accepted Answer

Deconstructing the text's structure and language

Answer

Exploring hidden meanings and symbols

Answer

Emphasizing historical and social context

Answer

Applying traditional literary theory

Question 20

How has formalism influenced literary education?

Accepted Answer

Encouraging close reading and textual analysis

Answer

Promoting standardized testing for literary understanding

Answer

Diminishing the role of the teacher in the classroom

Answer

Making the study of literature more scientific

Question 21

In what way does post-structuralism challenge traditional concepts of authorship?

Accepted Answer

Denying the relevance of the author's intent to the text's interpretation

Answer

Asserting the author's exclusive control over the text's meaning

Answer

Proposing that the author is merely a product of the text's context

Answer

Rejecting the concept of authorship entirely

Question 22

How has post-structuralism impacted the literary canon, broadening its scope?

Accepted Answer

Expanded the canon, embracing diverse voices and perspectives

Answer

Maintained the canon, preserving its traditional boundaries

Answer

Narrowed the canon, focusing on works by elite authors

Question 23

Which literary theory focuses on the inherent features of a text, examining its internal elements and structure?

Accepted Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Reader-response theory

Answer

Post-structuralism

Question 24

Which theory analyzes texts as systems of signs and symbols that convey deeper structures and meanings?

Accepted Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Feminist theory

Answer

Marxist theory

Answer

Psychoanalytic theory

Question 25

Which approach emphasizes the reader's role in interpreting and creating meaning from a text?

Accepted Answer

Reader-response theory

Answer

New Historicism

Answer

Deconstruction

Answer

Cultural materialism

Question 26

Which theory challenges the notion of fixed and absolute meaning, highlighting the fluidity and subjectivity of textual interpretations?

Accepted Answer

Post-structuralism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Marxist theory

Answer

Formalism

Question 27

Which literary theory examines the relationship between a text and its historical and social context?

Accepted Answer

New Historicism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Marxist theory

Answer

Deconstruction

Question 28

Which approach examines the psychological motivations and unconscious desires of authors and characters?

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalytic theory

Answer

Cognitive theory

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Question 29

How did formalism's focus on textual analysis and structure shape the principles of New Criticism?

Accepted Answer

Formalism's emphasis on text analysis and structure influenced New Criticism's approach to interpreting literature.

Answer

New Criticism emerged as a response to formalism's limitations in addressing literary meaning.

Answer

Both formalism and New Criticism emphasized the author's biography and intention in literary analysis.

Answer

Formalism rejected the idea of an objective literary interpretation, which New Criticism embraced.

Question 30

How has Feminist Theory broadened our understanding of what constitutes valuable literature?

Accepted Answer

By exposing and critiquing gender biases and stereotypes in literature.

Answer

By elevating women's writing to a higher status than men's writing.

Answer

By establishing a universal, essentialist definition of women's experiences.

Question 31

Which theory, in literary criticism, emphasizes the inherent qualities of a text, such as its form, structure, and language?

Accepted Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Marxism

Answer

Post-structuralism

Question 32

In structuralism, the meaning of a text is primarily determined by:

Accepted Answer

The relationships between its elements

Answer

The author's intentions

Answer

The reader's interpretation

Answer

The social and historical context

Question 33

How has literary theory influenced the way we read and analyze literature?

Accepted Answer

By providing systematic frameworks for understanding different approaches to interpretation

Answer

By diminishing the significance of authorial intent

Answer

By hindering the appreciation of a text's aesthetic qualities

Answer

By eliminating the need for subjective interpretation

Question 34

In what way does structuralism differ from formalism?

Accepted Answer

Structuralism examines broader structures within a text, while formalism focuses on individual elements

Answer

Structuralism emphasizes the reader's role, whereas formalism prioritizes the author's intent

Answer

Structuralism rejects the concept of a fixed meaning, while formalism seeks to uncover it

Answer

Structuralism is concerned with the surface features of a text, while formalism explores its underlying structure

Question 35

Which theory challenges the notion of a stable, unified meaning in a text?

Accepted Answer

Post-structuralism

Answer

Marxism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Question 36

What is a key difference between reader-response theory and traditional literary theories?

Accepted Answer

Reader-response theory places greater importance on the reader's interpretation than on the author's intent

Answer

Reader-response theory focuses primarily on the historical and cultural context of a work

Answer

Reader-response theory treats the text as a closed system with a predetermined meaning

Answer

Reader-response theory advocates for complete objectivity in literary criticism

Question 37

How does literary theory contribute to our understanding of the relationship between literature and society?

Accepted Answer

It provides analytical tools to examine how literature reflects and influences societal norms

Answer

It establishes definitive criteria for evaluating the quality of a literary work

Answer

It eliminates personal biases from literary criticism

Answer

It provides a single, authoritative interpretation of every literary text

Question 38

Which of the following accurately characterizes the fundamental premise of formalist literary theory?

Accepted Answer

The meaning of a literary work is inherent within its text, independent of external factors.

Answer

The author's intention is the primary determinant of a literary work's meaning.

Answer

Literature should be analyzed primarily through the lens of its historical and social context.

Question 39

Who is widely recognized as the founder of structuralist literary theory?

Accepted Answer

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Mikhail Bakhtin

Answer

Jacques Derrida

Question 40

Which of the following concepts is central to post-structuralist literary theory?

Accepted Answer

Deconstruction, which involves critically examining and questioning the assumptions and structures that shape a text's meaning.

Answer

Diegesis, the representation of a fictional world within a narrative.

Answer

Signification, the process of assigning meaning to linguistic symbols.

Answer

Catharsis, the emotional release experienced by readers or viewers.

Question 41

In what way does formalism differ from structuralism in its approach to literary analysis?

Accepted Answer

Formalism focuses primarily on the intrinsic elements and structures within a text, while structuralism examines the relationship between a text and larger external structures, such as social or cultural systems.

Answer

Formalism emphasizes the author's intention, while structuralism ignores it.

Question 42

Select the example that best illustrates a structuralist approach to literary analysis.

Accepted Answer

Analyzing the recurrent patterns, symbols, and motifs within a work of literature to uncover its underlying structures and meanings.

Answer

Exploring the historical and social context in which a work was written.

Answer

Examining a character's psychological motivations based solely on their dialogue.

Question 43

How has post-structuralism influenced the field of literary criticism?

Accepted Answer

It has challenged traditional notions of meaning, authorship, and the objectivity of interpretation, leading to a more diverse and nuanced understanding of literary texts.

Answer

It has made literary criticism more scientific and objective, relying solely on empirical data.

Answer

It has resulted in a renewed emphasis on the importance of the author's intention as the sole determinant of meaning.

Question 44

Which of the following is NOT a potential limitation of formalism as a literary theory?

Accepted Answer

It can effectively account for the influence of the social and historical context on a literary work.

Answer

It can lead to oversimplifying complex literary works by focusing solely on their formal elements.

Answer

It may overlook the role of the reader in shaping the meaning of a text.

Question 45

In what way can structuralism contribute to our understanding of the meaning of a literary work?

Accepted Answer

By identifying and analyzing the underlying structures, patterns, and relationships within the text, structuralism provides insights into the work's overall coherence and significance.

Answer

By offering a comprehensive historical and biographical analysis of the work's context.

Answer

By relying on the author's personal experiences and intentions as the primary source of meaning.

Question 46

According to post-structuralist literary criticism, which of the following statements about the role of the reader is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

The reader is not a passive recipient of meaning but actively participates in constructing and interpreting the text's significance.

Answer

The reader's personal experiences and biases have no influence on their understanding of the text.

Answer

The reader's role is limited to identifying the author's intended meaning.

Question 47

How has the influence of literary theory impacted the teaching of literature?

Accepted Answer

It has led to a broader and more diverse range of approaches to literary analysis, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of literary texts.

Answer

It has resulted in a decline in the emphasis on close reading and textual analysis.

Answer

It has made literature teaching more rigid and prescriptive.

Question 48

Which literary theory emphasizes the inherent qualities of a text, excluding external factors such as historical and authorial influences?

Accepted Answer

Formalism

Answer

Reader-Response Theory

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

New Historicism

Question 49

Which theory views a literary work as a self-contained system, emphasizing its underlying patterns and structures?

Accepted Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Post-colonialism

Answer

Marxism

Answer

Psychoanalysis

Question 50

Which theory challenges the notion of a fixed meaning, focusing on the indeterminacy and instability of texts?

Accepted Answer

Post-structuralism

Answer

Cultural Studies

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Feminism

Question 51

Which theory analyzes literature from a gendered perspective, exploring how it constructs and reflects gender identities and roles?

Accepted Answer

Feminism

Answer

Post-colonialism

Answer

Reader-Response Theory

Answer

Formalism

Question 52

Which theory emphasizes the role of the reader in constructing meaning and interpreting literature?

Accepted Answer

Reader-Response Theory

Answer

Post-colonialism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Structuralism

Question 53

Which theory explores how literature reflects and examines cultural, racial, and national identities?

Accepted Answer

Post-colonialism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Marxism

Answer

Feminism

Question 54

Which theory utilizes insights from various disciplines, such as sociology and psychology, to analyze literature?

Accepted Answer

Cultural Studies

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Reader-Response Theory

Question 55

Which theory investigates how literature reflects and critiques the dominant systems of production and consumption?

Accepted Answer

Critical Theory

Answer

Psychoanalysis

Answer

Post-colonialism

Answer

Formalism