Greg Salyer, Ph.D.
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Last week in the shallow end. Let's get this right before we move into the deep end.

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Greg Salyer, Ph.D.
Created by Greg Salyer, Ph.D. over 6 years ago
Greg Salyer, Ph.D.
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Module 3: Hacking Literary Theory II

Question 1 of 5

1

Analyzing an actual post
"In analyzing 'The Lottery' I decided to use deconstruction theory."

What can we say about this opening sentence?

Select one of the following:

  • Seems pretty straightforward. Go on.

  • Well, deconstruction isn't a theory. It's a particular practice of poststructuralist theory, so there's no such thing as "deconstructionist theory," even though the course and the OWL use the phrase.

  • Dude, don't start with deconstruction. What are you thinking?

  • Perfect. You put the text first because the theory always comes second.

Explanation

Question 2 of 5

1

Analyzing an actual post
"According to Purdue’s Online Writing Lab, deconstruction theory is commonly called Post-Structuralism which was founded in 1966 by Jacques Derrida."

What can we say about this line?

Select one of the following:

  • Never use a secondary or tertiary source like the OWL to make an argument. Always use the primary source, which is in the anthology.

  • Totally true.

  • So is it deconstruction or poststructuralism?

  • The OWL is awesome.

Explanation

Question 3 of 5

1

Analyzing an actual post
"From the psychoanalytic standpoint, we can see how the expectations or teachings of a society can affect how we see things even on a personal level. I think this is most evident by watching the children throughout the story."

What's wrong with this analysis?

Select one of the following:

  • Nothing. It's briliant.

  • There is no voice of the theorist, which is Freud in this case.

  • The children are not theoretical.

  • Freud was a pervert.

Explanation

Question 4 of 5

1

Analyzing an actual post
"Marx explains in his works that when there is stress in a capitalistic system or a government, a worker tends to "sink to the level of commodity and becomes indeed the most wretched of commodities' that the wretchedness of the worker is the inverse proportion to the power and magnitude of his production" (Marx 718)."

What can we say about this part of the post?

Select one of the following:

  • It contains the voice of the theorist and thus is well on its way to a theoretical analysis.

  • It's cheating because it's using a quotation.

  • It's showing off.

  • We're not allowed to talk about Marx. Shhhh.

Explanation

Question 5 of 5

1

Analyzing an actual post
"Feminist theory is built on the understanding of gender roles, expectations and possible resistance to them. In Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery', the reader notices right off the bat that men and women are divided into distinct roles. Their world seems to be that of a patriarchy, with men being the head of the households. There are several instances where this is made clear. From the women arriving to join their "menfolk" to men being labeled as heads of the families, it becomes clear that women take a secondary role in this society.

One notable scene is when Mrs. Dunbar has to be the one to draw from the lottery. Her presence there, even though justified, is questioned and she is the only woman to take an active role in the lottery's proceedings.

The only time a woman's participation is not questioned is during the stoning."

What can we say about this post?

Select one of the following:

  • It's a perfect example of feminist theoretical analysis.

  • It has neither the voice of the theorist nor the voice of the text. It is her own voice only and thus not theoretical analysis.

  • It's wrong.

  • It's right.

Explanation