If Marxist views can be applied to literary criticism, then it is inev

If Marxist views can be applied to literary criticism, then it is inevitable that prevailing schools of thought will be overthrown. Historically this has indeed been the case. Classicism gave way to Formalism and also Structuralism, Feminism, and Marxism—contemporary trends in literary criticism that sought to debunk the tenets of previous and competing theories. Of the myriad movements in literary criticism, however, there is one, known as Reader-Response criticism, so convincing that it cannot be overthrown. Its scope is so far-reaching and its assumptions so sound that it should be accepted as the umbrella under which all literary criticism is viewed. In short, all literary criticism is a form of Reader-Response. This truth becomes evident when one considers the irrefutable fact that all criticism requires the response of a reader. Furthermore, some aspect of Reader-Response theory has been present in all major theoretical movements in the field of literary criticism.

Plato, whose work marks the genesis of literary criticism, examined the effect of poetry. That he saw poetical effect as dangerous does not compromise the fact that he acknowledged the importance of the response a text elicits from its recipients. Plato is not the only theorist in the Classical tradition to emphasize the importance of the reader's response. Aristotle states that the goal of tragedy is to produce the proper effect on the audience. His work has also been viewed as a Formalist approach because it shows great attention to the text. Nevertheless, to Aristotle, great tragedy must elicit a specific response.

Even the Formalists with their emphasis on the objectivity of the text must acknowledge that any reading of text must be reliant on preconceived notions about the meaning of and interplay between words; such notions are the product of a reader's education and experience. Latter schools of thought provide other examples of the pervasiveness of Reader-Response theory. Feminist and Marxist criticism lay great importance on the differences among various readers, either those of gender in the former school or those of socioeconomic status in the latter.

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. contrasting various methods of literary criticism
B. defending an underrated critical method
C. explaining the roots of a controversial theory
D. arguing in favor of one view of a specific school of thought
E. questioning the permanence of a literary movement


2. The author suggests that Marxist views are

A. too outdated to apply to modern literary criticism
B. useful in evaluating other schools of thought
C. another example of Reader-Response criticism
D. similar in most respects to the views of the Formalists
E. in direct conflict with Feminist criticism

3. The passage states all of the following about Plato EXCEPT:

A. He believed that poetry was dangerous.
B. He believed that tragedy's purpose is to affect the audience.
C. He emphasized the effect of a text on the audience.
D. He is considered the first literary critic.
E. He is considered part of the Classical tradition.


4. The passage provides information to answer each of the following questions EXCEPT:

A. What are the basic tenets of Reader-Response criticism?
B. Which school of thought pays great attention to the text?
C. What is an aspect of Feminist criticism?
D. What are some contemporary trends in literary criticism?
E. How can Aristotle’s ideas be viewed?