Literary Theory and Its Applicability to Tobermory Tales by Lorn Macintyre - Essay Example

? LITERARY THOERY AND ITS APPLICABILITY TO TOBERMORY TALES BY LORN MACINTYRE. by Presented Location: Literary theory is a set of concepts or ideas and intellectual assumptions where the work of interpreting or explaining literary texts rest. Literary theory refers to a set of ideas and methods that scholars use in the practical reading of literature (Brewton 2005). It is an explanation of the fundamental principles i.e. tools by which scholars try to comprehend literature. Further, literary theory refers to any principles drawn from knowledge external to the text or from internal analysis of literary texts that is applicable in several interpretive situations (Brewton 2005). It creates the relationship between work and its author, develops the significance of gender, class, and race for literary study from the perspective of the bibliography of the writer and an examination of their thematic existence within texts. Literary text is a coherent set of symbols utilized in literary theory, to transmit informative message. Scholars consider the text in terms of its informative message content rather than the medium used to present it or its physical form. Structuralist criticism defines text as any object that one can read whether a work of literature, a style of clothing or a street sign. In the area of literary criticism, literary text also refers to creative information content of a piece of writing. Therefore, in determining a text, literary criticism is concerned with differentiating the original information from added or subtracted information from a given textual document i.e. a physical representation of text. This paper aims to discuss the history of literary theory and highlight its chief proponents and applicability in the 21st Century, and demonstrate its applicability in the Tales of Tobermory by Lorn Macintyre. Literary theory has its historical roots in ancient Greece where the scholarly world cites Aristotle’s Poetics as an example. In fact, literary theory extends to the times of ancient Greek philosophers Aristotle and Plato (The Saylor Foundation n.d., p. 5). The Western world considers Aristotle as the true theorist despite Plato being his teacher. This is because Aristotle offered the first fully formed theory on how literary art should function within society. Similarly, literary theory has its roots in ancient Rome, ancient India, and medieval Iraq. Modern literary theory progressively emerges in Europe for the period of the nineteenth century (Brewton 2011). Modern literary theory dates to the 1950s when structuralism became widespread in the English speaking academic world. The theory turned out to be popular in the United States and the United Kingdom in late 1960s to 1980s through the influence from institutions such as Yale, Cornell, and John Hopkins Universities. The theory was considered as revolutionary hence many institutions integrated the theory into their curricula. Numerous academic novels during that period also featured the theory prominently, for example, the works of David Lodge. However, due to the difficult language of its text and its sudden rise in popularity critics were of the view that the theory had become a fad in the academic world. According to Besbes, the debates in the 1970s and 80s on the academic merits of the theory between both anti-theoretical and theoretical scholars lead to the rise of the theory wars (2011, p. xi). Literary theory no longer takes up the commanding place it had 25 years ago (Eagleton 2008, p. vii). The popularity of literary theory as a subject of interest started declining in the 1990s though literary theory texts had been integrated into the study of almost all literature. The debate over the application of theory in literary works and studies died out as from 2004. At the moment, discussions on the subject within cultural and literary studies are noticeably calm and less discordant. Nonetheless, works of authors such as Andrew Costigan and Nathan Parker still stir some controversy seek to resurface the debate. In recent times, some scholars continue to utilize the theory in their works; others only give it a mention as a significant part of literature while others do not acknowledge it at all. Literary theories were formed in order to comprehend the diverse ways people read texts. The supporters of each theory suppose their theory is the ideal theory. However, most readers interpret texts according to the rules of a number of different theories at a time i.e. different theories overlap (Literary Theories n.d.). A result of the diverse views is literary criticism, which can be defined as the practical application of literary theory. Different proponents support literary theory by use of diverse literary criticisms. For example, feminist criticism sees economic, cultural disabilities and male chauvinism in a society as hindering women from realizing their inventive possibilities. Author who support literary theory through the use of feminist criticism in their work include Judith Butler, Elaine Showalter, and Lucie Irigay. In addition, Karl Max and Friedrich Engels supported Marxist criticism, which focuses on power and money in literature works. Other forms of criticism base on literary theory include new criticism, psychological and psychoanalytic criticism, deconstruction, historical criticism, structuralism, modernism, post colonialism, and reader response among many more. In order to understand the role of historical perspective in interpretation, and the significance of linguistic and unconscious elements of the text, literary theory offers various approaches. Literary theorists mark out the evolution and history of the various genres as well as the recent materialization of short stories and novels. They also investigate the significance of formal components of literary structure. In recent years, literary theory seeks to give explanations on the extent to which text is a product of culture than an individual author and consecutively how these texts aid to create culture (Brewton 2005). According to Roland Barthes, a semiotician and French literary critic, various social, cultural, and political ideologies constantly control language, and structures the way individuals conceptualize the world in which they reside. Taking the case of the short story “Homeboy,” the boy could not speak Gaelic and always felt that the woman and her dummies were intentionally speaking the language in order to exclude him. As a result, he saved a few shillings to buy his first Gaelic book which cost him five shillings. The homeboy read this book at every opportune moment even as he was working. In addition, he listened to his master and wife talk so that he could grasp the words’ pronunciation. Through this way, he eventually learnt to speak fluent Gaelic. In the story, language acts as a powerful force, which serves to influence the way the homeboy understands the world around him. The semiotics theory would critique mythologies and stereotypes of the Homeboy. For example, when the woman employing the homeboy realizes he was missing, she says that he was of no use just like others of his kind. This is stereotyping as the return of the homeboy to collect Gaelic stories proves the woman wrong. The homeboy who is now a grown man is portrayed as a hardworking young man. He goes to the extent of working for meager pay in order to pay for his education. Finally, by learning Gaelic the boy understood the signs that the dummies used to mock him, and he used the same to remind the old woman that he was indeed the boy who she thought had disappeared. Feminist theory is applicable in the short story “Living on love.” According to the Saylor Foundation (n.d.) feminist theory promotes female identity, writings of women and argues for women’s rights. The theory critiques the structures within societies and cultures, which organize sexual and gender identities as opposition between men and women. Therefore, feminist theory often concentrates on female authors and women experiences. In the story living on love, feminist theory applies mostly in the characters of Jessie and Sheila. Jessie is the first post woman on the island she lives. She takes a job, which is associated with men despite her predecessor retiring due to the tiresome nature of the job, walking long distances with a heavy bag of letters sometimes. She has to cover a five mile journey making deliveries. In addition, Jessie continued to perform her duties even in unfavorable weathers such as stormy conditions. She even volunteered to add extra parcels in her delivery bag as an act of kindness especially to people who could not make it to shop, for example, the old. Sheila is depicted as a god who Paul in a way worships. Not only does she command Paul to cater for her needs by claiming the directions are from God, but she also says that whatever she instructs is unquestionable. This applies to Jessie, as well. Feminist theory closely examines women’s role in the development of culture. It also serves to reject and challenge assumptions linked to masculine discourse and forces of political power (The Saylor Foundation n.d., p. 16). Sheila uses her messages from the Lord to control Paul and Jessie and achieve her own will and desires. When their plans are discovered by other islanders who come to the rescue of Jessie, Paul suggests that they leave, which exposes their mission on the island as questionable. In order to suit her will, Sheila comes up again with her messages that they should move. However, Jessie manages to get away from them. At some point, Sheila gains control over Jesse, who is the main symbol of feminist in the story. She gains the spotlight immediately after her arrival in the island as she easily deceives Jessie. In conclusion, the essay has discussed the history of literary theory and draw attention to its chief proponents and applicability in the 21st Century. In addition, it has demonstrated its applicability in the Tales of Tobermory by Lorn Macintyre. It is evident that feminist and semiotic theories are apparent in this some of the stories in this book as confirmed by this discussion. However, this essay does not aim to argue that these are the only theories applicable in the short stories as the theories tend to overlap in a similar scenario. List of References Besbes, Khaled. (2011) Rehabilitating Literary Theory: A Practical Guide for the Critical and Semiotic Analysis of Poetry and Drama [online] available from < http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=HGlVS8p4h3cC&pg=PA204&dq=Rehabilitating+Li terary+Theory:+A+Practical+Guide+for+the+Critical+and+...++By+Khaled+Besbes&hl =en&sa=X&ei=WiOqUK2LOImYhQfDxoGYBQ&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA> [19 November 2012] Brewton, Vince. (2005) Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [online] available from < http://www.iep.utm.edu/literary/> [19 November 2012] Eagleton, Terry. (2008) Literary Theory: An Introduction [online] available from < http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=QNmFm4M_RXkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Theor y+of+literature&hl=en&sa=X&ei=EySnUN_LDcfBhAe5u4GIBA&ved=0CEkQ6AEwC Q#v=onepage&q=Theory%20of%20literature&f=false> [19 November 2012] Literary Theories: A Sampling of Critical Lenses. [online] available from [19 November 2012] The Saylor Foundation. (n.d.) The Saylor Foundation’s An Introduction to Literary Theory [online] available from [19 November 2012] Read More