Skills Lesson: Theories of Literary Interpretation – Flashcards

Which school of theory believes that art reflects the artist's unconscious desires and fears? A. psycholanalytic criticism B. feminist criticism C. formalism D. structuralism

Consider the principles of the school of formalism. Which type of theory (according to M. H. Abrams) explains the focus of the school of formalism best? A. formal B. rhetorical C. mimetic D. expressive

Which statement about literary theories is true? A. Each theory is a different eyeglass through which to look at literature. B. Each theory reveals the exact interpretation of a given piece of text. C. Theories are not practical and should not be considered when analyzing literature. D. Theories are complex and should not be used unless one has a degree in English literature.

Theories that focus on the aesthetic relationship between parts within a work are known as __________ theories. expressive formal rhetorical mimetic

Consider a target circle. As one moves further from the center for the circle, what happens to the interpretation? A. The interpretation moves farther away from the text. B. The interpretation moves closer to the text. C. The interpretation gets more specific and less general. D. The interpretation becomes more scientific.

Read the poem below and answer the question that follows. "Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide or press an ear against its hive. I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out, or walk inside the poem's room and feel the walls for a light switch. I want them to waterski across the surface of a poem waving at the author's name on the shore. But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it. They begin beating it with a hose to find out what it really means. Which type of literary theory would examine the relationship between the poem and Billy Collins? mimetic expressive rhetorical formal

According to M. H. Abrams, theories that are focused on the relationship between the work of art and the artist are called __________ theories. formal mimetic expressive rhetorical

What are the four types of literary theories according to literary historian M. H. Abrams? A. critical, theoretical, practical, and otherworldly B. mimetic, rhetorical, expressive, and formal C. critical, reflective, analytical, and quarterly D. reflective, persuasive, emotional, and structural

How many literary theories are still acceptable to use in literary analysis? A. All literary theories are acceptable to use. B. Five literary theories are still in use today. C. Seven literary theories are still in use today. D. No literary theories are still in use today.

According to the lecture, to examine one piece of literature through the viewpoint of multiple literary theories is __________. destructive forbidden backward informative

"Apology" by Richard Wilbur A word sticks in the wind's throat; A wind-launch drifts in the swells of rye; Sometimes, in broad silence, The hanging apples distil their darkness. You, in a green dress, calling, and with brown hair, Who come by the field-path now, whose name I say Softly, forgive me love if also I call you Wind's word, apple-heart, haven of grasses. Source: Wilbur, Richard. "Apology." Collected Poems: 1943-2004. Orlando: Harcourt Books, 2004. Print. What would a formal interpretation of the poem focus on? a reflection of patriarchal society in the poem the author's biography and psychology the reader's interaction with the poem the literary qualities and elements

Which word belongs in the circle marked "1"? historical formal biographical poem

As one moves further from the center fo the circle, what happens to the interpretation? The interpretation moves farther away from the text. The interpretation moves closer to the text. The interpretation gets more specific and less general. The interpretation becomes more scientific.

Consider the principles underlying Aristotle's theory of dramatic construction. According to M. H. Abrams, which type of theory is dramatic construction? mimetic rhetorical expressive formal

"Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide or press an ear against its hive. I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out, or walk inside the poem's room and feel the walls for a light switch. I want them to waterski across the surface of a poem waving at the author's name on the shore. But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it. They begin beating it with a hose to find out what it really means. Source: Collins, Billy. "Introduction to Poetry." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2011. What would a dramatic constructionist critic focus on when interpreting this poem? the extent to which the poem achieves its intended objective the frustration that Billy Collins must feel the main lesson or instruction of the poem the literary elements and qualities in the poem