Literary Theory
Literary Theory is a comprehensive term that encompasses various methods and frameworks for analyzing, interpreting, and understanding literature. This field has evolved significantly since its inception, influencing how literature is both created and critiqued.
History and Development
The roots of Literary Criticism can be traced back to ancient times with figures like Aristotle, who wrote "Poetics," providing one of the earliest systematic approaches to literary analysis. Over centuries, literary theory has seen:
- Renaissance: Focus on rhetoric and poetics with the likes of Philip Sidney's "An Apology for Poetry."
- 18th Century: The emergence of Aesthetic Theory with critics like Alexander Pope.
- 19th Century: Romanticism brought new insights into the role of the imagination and emotion in literature, with critics like Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
- 20th Century: A period of significant theoretical proliferation:
Key Concepts and Theories
- Textuality: The focus on the text as an artifact, often analyzed through close reading.
- Intertextuality: The interconnectedness of texts, where literature references or echoes other works.
- Narratology: The study of narrative structure and how stories are told.
- Authorial Intent: The debate over whether the author's intentions are relevant or if the text should stand alone.
- Deconstruction: An approach that questions binary oppositions and seeks to expose the instability of meaning.
Contemporary Trends
Today, Literary Theory continues to evolve, incorporating:
References
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