8. Literary theory enables a broad
appreciation of global literature.
Reading a text through the lens of literary
theory provides a new perspective to
better understand literature, learn more
about different authors' intentions, and
generally improve the quality of literature
for both authors and readers. Literary
theory can also influence literature,
challenging texts to evolve into new
territory.
IMPORTANCE
OF LITERARY
THEORY
9.
10.
11.
12. Mimesis,basic theoretical principle in the
creation of art. The word is Greek and means
“imitation” (though in the sense of “re-
presentation” rather than of “copying”)
13. • Mimetic theory rises from its rejection of
the three other theories.
Four Theories of Literary Criticism
In his book, "Critical Theory Since Plato,"
University of Washington literature professor
Hazard Adams identifies four primary literary
theories:
• Expressive literary theory emphasizes the
ways in which the work expresses the
author’s personal concerns.
• Pragmatic theory emphasizes the utility of
art -- how reading may positively affect the
reader.
• The objective theory of literary criticism
asserts that the work’s value has no
necessary dependence on any external
factors, but rises from its own formal
structure.
14. Mimetic Theory Rejects Expressive Theory
The writer's expression of personal concerns, although
significant for expressive literary theory, does not in any way
automatically qualify it as art. If the concerns are petty or even
criminal, then the work fails from the mimetic viewpoint because
it does not reflect the positive moral values of true art. A work
such as Jean Genet's "The Maids," which describes the brutal
murder of a wealthy Frenchwoman by her maids, utterly fails
from the mimetic viewpoint.
15. Mimetic Theory vs Pragmatic Theory
• Mimetic theory and pragmatic theory share
the view that literature has the capacity for
healing. However, mimetic theory emphasizes
how this relates to the literary work’s
conveyance of universal truths, while
pragmatic theory puts more emphasis on the
reader’s response.
16. Mimetic Theory vs Pragmatic Theory
• Mimetic theory emphasizes how literature's
capacity for healing relates to the literary
work’s conveyance of universal truths.
• Pragmatic theory emphasizes how the
reader responds to the literary work’s capacity
for healing.
17. Mimetic Theory rejects Objective Literary Theory
From the mimetic viewpoint, art’s primary concern is the
representation of reality, but the unanswered question is
"Who decides what is reality and what is not?"
In Soviet Russia, for example, not only writers but
even composers were silenced and jailed because in the
view of the Communist government their works failed to
accurately reflect positive social values.
18. Born 428/427 or 424/423 BC
Athens, Greece
Died 348 BC (aged c. 75-76 or 79-80)
Athens, Greece
In his theory of Mimesis, Plato says
that all art is mimetic by nature; art
(which includes literature) is an
imitation of life. He believed that
‘idea’ is the ultimate reality. Art
imitates idea and so it is imitation of
reality. He gives an example of a
carpenter and a chair.
19. For Plato, philosophy is
superior to poetry. Plato
rejected poetry as it is
mimetic in nature on the
moral and philosophical
grounds.
“twice removed from reality”
20. Aristotle advocated
poetry as it is mimetic in
nature. According to him,
poetry is an imitation of
an action and his tool of
enquiry is neither
philosophical nor moral.
He examines poetry as a
piece of art and not as a
book of preaching or
teaching.
