Comprehensive Literary and Cultural Theories: Formalist, Marxist, Feminist, Psychoanalytic, Archetypal, and Postcolonial Perspectives

Formalist theory

View literary text as a complete, isolated unit​

Conflict

the opposition of two forces or characters​

Protagonist

the most important character in the story (usually the hero)​

Antagonist

the major character in opposition to the protagonist or hero​

Point of view

the perspective of which the story is told​

Plot structure

the organization of incidents in a story (introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution)​

Setting

where and when a story takes place​

Symbols

an object that signifies something else​

Theme

a central thesis or idea expressed directly or indirectly​

Marxist Theory

Whoever controlled the means of production in society, controlled the society.​

hegemony

the order of society that seems "natural", "buying into" this structure​

proletariat

who operate the means of production, controlled by the bourgeoise.​

bourgeoise

who control the means of production and wealth.​

commodification

turning something (or someone) into a product with economic value; treating people or ideas like things to be bought or sold.​

materialism

the belief that physical possessions and wealth are more important than spiritual or moral values.​

reification

objectifying something immaterial such as emotion or labour (as a commodity)​

exploitation

when the working class is used for their labour by those in power for profit or advantage.​

alienation

the separation of workers from the product of their labour, from each other, and from their own humanity.​

capitalism

an economic system based on private ownership and profit, often leading to class inequality and exploitation.​

Feminist Theory

examines how gender inequality, patriarchy, and power dynamics shape literature and society.​

objectified

treated as an object or thing rather than as a person with emotions and agency.​

male gaze

when women are depicted from a male, heterosexual perspective that sexualizes or objectifies them.​

patriarchy

a system where men hold power and authority over women and other genders.​

matriarchy

a social system or structure where women hold the primary power and leadership roles.​

marginalized

pushed to the edge of society, given less power or importance.​

misogyny

hatred, dislike, or prejudice against women.​

heteronormativity

the assumption that heterosexual relationships are the default or "normal" form of sexuality.​

psychoanalytic theory

explores the unconscious mind, human desires, and repressed emotions that influence behavior and literature.

superego

the moral conscience; represents social rules, guilt, and ideals.

ego

the rational self that balances between desires (id) and morality (superego).

id

the instinctual, impulsive part of the mind that seeks pleasure and avoids pain.

narcissistic bliss

the early state of self-absorption or unity with one's desires before awareness of others develops.

oedipal complex

a child's unconscious desire for the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent.

yonic symbols

objects that represent femininity or the womb (e.g., caves, cups, valleys).

thanatos

the death drive; represents self-destruction and aggression.

eros

the life drive; represents love, creativity, and survival instincts.

archetypes

Universal character types or symbols shared across cultures (e.g., hero, mentor, villain).

The hero quest

a journey of transformation where a hero leaves home, faces trials, gains wisdom, and returns changed.

The fall

the loss of innocence or descent from a higher to a lower state, often due to temptation or moral failure.

Post colonial

anything involving colonial contact for its beginnings to independence to the present, when residual effects of colonialism are often still manifested both in the colonized cultures and in the colonizing culture.

colony

an area or country under partial or full political control of another, usually geographically distant, country/power.

double-consciousness

a sense of being both part of the colonized and colonizing cultures → leads to internal conflict in the colonized individual/group as they start seeing themselves on the periphery of both groups.

alterity

the state of being 'other' → often leads to a lack of identification with one's own personality/voice/community/identity (shame of 'othered' state).

subaltern

(adj.) the marginalized or 'inferior' culture.

hybridity

the mingling of colonized and colonizing cultures (language, dress, behaviour, rituals, art/literature, values).

assimilation/adaptation

the internalizing and passing on of hybrid culture to successive generations → can be both enriching and oppressive.

Western Imperialism

domination of other nations politically, economically, and culturally by Western powers for control and exploitation.

Eurocentrism/Westerncentrism

viewing the world through a Western perspective, often ignoring or devaluing non-Western cultures.

Western literary canon

a body of literature traditionally considered 'classic' or superior, mainly written by Western, male authors.

DWEM (dead white european males)

challenges the canon's dominant influence as a form of knowledge making.

Colonial hegemony

dominance of colonial powers through cultural, political, and ideological control that makes oppression seem natural or justified.

Critical race theory

examines how race, power, and law intersect to maintain inequality and systemic racism in society.

phallic

represent masculinity, power, dominance, and male sexuality.

They are often tall, vertical, or penetrating objects — examples include towers, swords, guns, rockets, and spears.