Literary Theory and Modes

Running head: LITERARY THEORY AND MODES 1
LITERARY THEORY AND MODES
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LITERARY THEORY AND MODES 2
Literary Theory and Modes
Introduction
Literary theory is a diverse ideology whose explanation cannot be illustrated sufficiently.
However, various theorists have explained the ideology differently according to their
perspectives. However, the cross-cutting explanation of literary or critical theory is the
embodiment of ideas or concepts that form the basis of understanding and interpreting literature.
These underlying concepts enshrined in the literary theories also exits in various modes. Some of
these modes include;
Formalism Theory:
As the name suggests, this type of literary mode is concerned with evaluating and
understanding the format used in presenting the respective literature. Moreover, it also depicts
the application of literary devices in the format of the literature. Besides the format, Formalists
also pursued to understand the existence of literature through various other ways, deriving the
ultimate objective of not only the literature but also the literary techniques entailed in the
literature. Formalists like Roman Jacobson also argued that the formalism perspective of
literature is not mostly based on the author or content. However, the significant aspects of the
writing were implied in the literary devices or abilities it had implemented that distinguishes it
from other pieces of writing. Mainly, literary devices like the plot and narrating strategy,
according to formalism, are not only evaluated by how they worked for the literature but also in
comparison to how they have been used in other literary writings. Lastly, it is profound that the
formalist perspective partially ignores some aspects of literature like the cultural affiliation of

LITERARY THEORY AND MODES 3
illustration, impact on the society, the content of the literature, the authors of the piece, and keeps
its attention on the genre, discourse, and structural formation.
Marxist Theory:
The primary scope of Marxism in literary analysis, on the other hand, lies in the depiction
of class. The Marxist protagonists believe class is implicated diversely in the art, including
literary writing. Therefore, the mode fundamentally persuades to elaborate and defend class and
materialism in literature. Besides presenting literature as an essential platform or representation
of diversity in social class and materialism, it also depicts how the superficial structure of
literature also explains or complements the issue of class in society.
Moreover, this mode of literary theory is important since, among its objectives, it
portrays the presence of social concerns in the overall existence of society. Particularly
illustrates; the ideas of class, materialism, its presence in the society, and also, impacts of
materialism on the well-being of society. Furthermore, in illustrating the concerns about social
class, the theory also focuses on the members of the lower class. Besides using history to explain
incidences of class, the concepts of Marxism also indicate that literature and the ideologies
illustrated in literary writing are mostly organized by the members of the higher class in the
society. Therefore, the main mandate of the members of the lower social class is to discern the
authenticity of art built by the dominant class.
Feminism Theory:
The mode of critical theory is based on enhancing the knowledge on the role and impact
of literature on gender equality. The theory was initially proposed in 1974 by female authors like
Mary Wollstonecraft. The proposers of the theory sought to shed light on how various aspects
entailed in the preparation and presentation of literature depicted the niche of both the male and