This Paper Aims To Examine The

This paper aims to examine the uses of teaching / reading a theory. This paper will discuss the advantages and disadvantages involved in analysing a text from a particular theory.
Before discussing the uses of reading / teaching a theory, it is important to first discuss what literary criticism is and what the difference between literary criticism and literary theory is. Literary criticism is concerned with the act of interpreting and studying literature. A literary critic evaluates the importance or value of a work of literature and also argues on behalf of an interpretation or understanding of the particular meaning(s) of literary texts. The job of a literary critic is to attempt and describe what literary texts mean in terms of their aesthetic, as well as social, political, and cultural statements and suggestions in order to understand the meaning. “Literary theory,” however, refers to a particular form of literary criticism in which particular academic, scientific, or philosophical approaches are followed in a systematic way while analysing literary texts. For example, a psychoanalytic theorist might observe and interpret a literary text strictly from the psychoanalysis point of view and psychology and, in turn, suggest an interpretation or reading of a text that focuses entirely on the psychological dimensions of it.
USES OF TEACHING/READING A THEORY
It gives us clear instruction- analysing a text from a particular literary theory’s point of view enables us to view the text from a particular stand. Any literary theory gives us certain assumptions to follow in order to interpret a piece of work. For example, new Criticism emphasizes explicitly on close reading of the text. It rejects old historicism's attention to biographical and sociological matters. Instead, they focus as to "how a piece of literature works" and how meaning can be found through close focus and analysis. New criticism gives importance to words on the text and nothing else; all the other factors affecting the text are considered trivial by new criticism.
It helps us to establish view about a piece of work- applying a theory while reading a text helps us form views regarding the text. A text is loaded with multiple meaning and it is on the readers’ part to interpret a text and accordingly dig out the hidden meaning. For example, if we interpret Shakespeare’s Hamlet from psychoanalysis theory we find that the character of Hamlet bleeds unconsciously and affects his behaviour in the real world. Many of the characters in Hamlet demonstrate signs of id, ego, and superego through their actions and intentions, but no characters display these more than Hamlet, Claudius and Old King Hamlet. It helps us to have a multiple viewpoint- since there are many literary theories it provides the reader with a multiple viewpoints regarding a particular text. Readers can view the text from different angles by applying different literary theories. It helps reader to have a multidimensional view of the same text. For example Robert frost’s “Stopping by woods on a snowy evening” can be analysed from new criticism point of view as well as from psychoanalytic point of view; where in one hand the focus would be on the words on the text and on the other the focus would be on the mental condition that led the speaker to stop and gaze at the woods. It helps us decide the better of two conflicting readings- when analysing a text from different literary theories, it provides with an advantage on the part of the reader to compare between the two readings and find which one better is. In this way a reader can choose his own theory and can argue on behalf of his interpretation and understanding of the text. This in a way also helps the reader to be in a better position than other since he not only views the text from one single point but also from multiple points.
It helps us resolve difficulty in reading- when a reader reads a text s/he might experience certain complexities regarding why certain things happens repeatedly, in that context if the reader follows the assumptions of the literary criticism it might help him solve his difficulty in reading. For example- if we look at Mythological / Archetypal criticism we find a pattern in literature being repeated over and over again; Mahabharata, the battle of troy, Ramayana, Oedipus , Hamlet in all these text the characters might be different but then again they have one thing in common, that is their downfall or tragedy being brought down by women. Once the reader identifies the pattern s/he can have a better understanding of the text.
It helps us to shift from one theory to another- analysing a text from multiple point of view always offers the reader with an advantage. A reader who analyses a text from multiple angles can always shift his perspective to another, depending how he interpreted the text. For example- a reader might not be satisfy with certain interpretation he derived reading a text from psychoanalytic analysis so he might shift his study from psychoanalysis criticism to archetypal criticism. Bronte’s “Wuthering heights” might serve as an example here, according to Linda Gold’s interpretation Heathcliff, the id, expresses the most primitive drives (like sex), seeks pleasure, and avoids pain; the id is not affected by time and remains in the unconscious (appropriately, Heathcliff's origins are unknown, he is dark, he runs wild and is primitive as a child, and his three year absence remains a mystery). Catherine, the ego, relates to other people and society, tests the impulses of the id against reality, and controls the energetic id until there is a reasonable chance of its urges being fulfilled. Edgar, the superego, represents the rules of proper behavior and morality inculcated by teachers, family, and society; he is civilized and cultured. As conscience, he compels Catherine to choose between Heathcliff and himself. On the other hand, in archetypal criticism we see Bronte’s Heathcliff as a symbolic character through the elemental image of fire. On the day he leaves Wuthering Heights, his energy burns down the tree in Wuthering Heights. Nelly’s description of Catherine – “natural”, “wild” and “ adventurous”, and Cathy’s dilemma in choosing between nature( her mother and her real side) and artifice( Edgar, her father). She is supposed to be proper and artificial just like her dad is at Thrushcross Grange but her true self is at Wuthering Heights, where she can be natural and adventurous. Cathy is always finding ways to sneak out and visit Wuthering Heights whenever she can. So we see a repeated pattern in mother Catherine and young Catherine. The element (water) here is shown through human biological features. Water brings in the context of gothic feel and the theme of the conflict between nature and culture. The tears that runs down the cheek depicts the curvy and wavy directions each character plays. Adding a significant value in the text. It’s an imagery that shows how the Wuthering Heights is like a topsy-turvy world on its own.
Conclusion - So reading/ teaching a theory thus help reader in analysing, interpreting and understanding a text better. Analysing a text via a theory definitely adds more meaning on the part of the reader and interpretation becomes much easier. For better understanding of a text the reader should engage in multiple reading of the text from different angles taking sort of different theories.