Week 5: GoFormative #1

Definitions:

1.) An independent clause is a simple sentence

2.) An independent clause (simple sentence) contains a subject and a predicate.

3.) A predicate is the verb half of the sentence.

4.) A fragment is when an independent clause is missing either the subject or the predicate (verb half).

Literature, along with art and history, is part of the humanities, meaning the study of human beings. As we read literature and study history it is important to use our critial thinking and imagine ourselves in different shoes through our analysis, even if we disagree or do not normally look at history or art from certain perspectives. The goal is to understand the human being from all angles.

Our focus as listed in our syllabus along with most literary critisim and literary lens theory is to take the position of the most vulnerable. For example, rather than try to understand the rich land owner, we will focus on the views and situation of the poor or less wealthy renter.

LENS #1: Socio-Cultural/ Historical Critism

Definition: Socio-cultural/ Historical critics examine the social surroundings in which the author wrote. They consider the politics and social movements during the time period of the text’s creation. The idea is to understand how the text was shaped or help shape society.

Recurring Question: How did the text help to shape history, and/or how did events during the author's life help shape the text?

LENS #2: Marxist Critism

Definition: This is criticism inspired by the historical, economic and sociological theory of philosopher and economist Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Its focus is economic conditions and different classes of people within society. To put it simply, it focuses on the power of the rich, and the disadvantages of the poor that can be found in a text.

Recurring Questions: Who has the power/money in society? Who does not? What happens in society as a result of this?

LENS #3: Critical Race Theory

Definition: Examines the appearance of race and racism across art and literature. Examples can be types of hair that are portrayed in film, art, novels. Race theorists look at personalities given to black/brown characters. Race theorists also look at if there is a presence of other races in stories or are all characters white?

Race theorists stand by that historically, white/straight/male images of power were honored in literature and art. It wasn't until critism of this did we see change. Race theorists often combine with Marxist theory to point out the relationship of poverty to racial conditions.

Recurring Questions: What race has the most power or is considerded the hero of a text? Is there a presence of other races and if so, how are those other races presented?