Marxist Literary Criticism Lord of the Flies

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Marxist Literary CriticismLord of the Flies
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Literary Criticism is the study, analysis, and
evaluation of imaginative literature. Formalist
approach - when the work of literature is studied
without reference to the history or to the life
of the author. Humanistic approach - when
philosophy and history are considered. Philosophy
explores general ideas, such as truth, beauty,
and goodness. It helps readers understand themes
of the work. History attempts to determine what
happened in the past, and why it happened.
History brings forth the life and times of the
author. Literary criticism is not reading
between the lines, it is reading the lines very
carefully, in a disciplined and informed manner.
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• Brief history of the ideology
• Karl Marx (1818-1883)
• theory of dialectical materialism society,
  politics and economics
• (Dialectical Materialism the Marxist theory
  (adopted as the official philosophy of the Soviet
  communists) that political and historical events
  result from the conflict of social forces and are
  interpretable as a series of contradictions and
  their solutions. The conflict is believed to be
  caused by material needs.)
• criticized the exploitation of the working class
  (proletariat) by the capitalist class who owned
  the mines and factories (bourgeoisie)
• believed the system of production was the most
  basic fact in social life - whoever controlled
  it, controlled society - thought the proletariat
  should own the means of production
• he wanted an even distribution of the wealth
  among all
• believed a classless society would result of a
  revolution where the proletariat would gather
  strength and overthrow the bourgeoisie

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Marx argued that all mental systems (ideologies)
were the products of social and economic
realities. To these realities he ascribed
religious beliefs, legal systems and cultural
expression. Marx emphasized that it is not the
consciousness of men that determines their social
being, but the other way about.
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In literary terms Marxists believe(d) that
literature is a reflection of culture. Culture
can be affected by literature. Literature can
instigate revolution. The middle class are the
majority of consumers of literature/art, if they
are offered the chance to absorb literature/arts
that are outside of the bourgeoisie control, then
change of ideology could happen. In terms of the
written content - if an author sympathizes with
the working class, and condemns the power held by
the dominant class - he/she is writing in a
Marxist ideology.
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Literary critique cont. It assesses the
political tendency of a literary
work. Literature reflects class struggle and
materialism think how often the quest for wealth
traditionally defines characters. So Marxists
generally view literature "not as works created
in accordance with timeless artistic criteria,
but as 'products' of the economic and ideological
determinants specific to that era". Literature
reflects an author's own class or analysis of
class relations, however piercing or shallow that
analysis may be.
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• Marxism Four Main Areas of Study (Read as a
  group)
• Economic power
• Materialism versus spirituality
• Class conflict
• Art, literature, and ideologies

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References http//www.teachrobb.com/documents/Cri
ticism.htm http//www.arthistoryclub.com/art_histo
ry/Marxist_literary_criticism http//www.textetc.c
om/theory/marxist-views.html http//wsu.edu/delah
oyd/marxist.crit.html