THE MARXIST CRITIC Considers literature as a Explores

THE MARXIST CRITIC � Considers literature as a _______________________________ ______. � Explores the way ____________________ are intentionally or unintentionally hallenged in a literary workreflected

� Examines _________________________________ ___. � Sees the class status and ideologies of the author as impinging on the work (the work is very much a product of its context) � Examines the social and economic

� According to Marxist scholars, literature reflects the social institutions out of which it emerges and is itself a social institution with a particular ideological function. �__________________ ____ �in turn, the text itself helps to continue

� In a Capitalist society, Marxist critics argue, texts reflect class struggle and materialism. � The Marxist critic, then, carefully reads a text and examines issues of power and money.

� Marxist literary theories tend to focus on the representation of class conflict as well as the reinforcement of class distinctions through the medium of literature. � Marxist theorist often champion authors sympathetic to the working classes and authors whose work challenges economic equalities found in capitalist societies

QUESTIONS A MARXIST WOULD EXPLORE � What class structures or ideologies are reflected in the work? Does it seem intentional or unintentional? � __________________________________ ______? � Is the story of the socially or economically disenfranchised told? Or is the story of the socially or economically told?

� Are the disenfranchised diminished? Are the elite valued more than the disenfranchised? � __________________________________? � Is the author a member of the social and economic privileged? Is the author a member of the socially or economically underprivileged?

� What kinds of power (social, economic, sexual, physical, etc. ) are evident in the text? What is the social order? � Who has power in the text? How do they maintain and/or gain power? � How do power relationships operate in the text? Who gains and loses in the relationships?

� What, if anything, causes power to change hands? � What ideologies (values, beliefs, social roles) are evident in the text? � Do characters recognize the oppressive social order/ideologies? � _________________ ___?

� In what ways does the work serve as propaganda for the status quo (keep society the same); or does it try to undermine it? � What does the work say about oppression; or are social conflicts ignored or blamed on others? � What social/economic forces affect the author's writing?

STRENGTHS � Marxist criticism is ______________________________ _______. � Also, this approach appeals too a broad spectrum of people and is very good at exploring political and personal relationships.

DRAWBACKS � Marxist criticism's ____________________________ ___.

TERMS � ________ – the working class (average Joe/Josephine � _________– wealthy (the 1%) the upper class,

� Itsy bitsy spider… � Alienation…