Here is part one of a keynote I use with my College Comp I class illustrating some of the major types of literary theory.

1. Literary Theory
College Comp
2012 Part 1

3. What is it?

4. What is it?
Literary theory

5. What is it?
Literary theory
A variety of ways to ‘view’ or ‘understand’
different texts.

6. What is it?
Literary theory
A variety of ways to ‘view’ or ‘understand’
different texts.
Ever read or watch something with someone else
only to find you loved it while they loathed it?

7. What is it?
Literary theory
A variety of ways to ‘view’ or ‘understand’
different texts.
Ever read or watch something with someone else
only to find you loved it while they loathed it?
How can you explain this?

9. What is it? Continued

10. What is it? Continued
The importance of perspectives

11. What is it? Continued
The importance of perspectives
Your way of seeing the world is not the only
way . . .

12. What is it? Continued
The importance of perspectives
Your way of seeing the world is not the only
way . . .
How to account for the differences?

14. What is it? Continued

15. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?

16. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family

17. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Beliefs

18. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Nationality
Beliefs

19. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Nationality
Education
Beliefs

20. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Nationality
Education Interests
Beliefs

21. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Nationality
Education Interests
Race
Beliefs

22. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Nationality
Education Interests
Race
Intelligence
Beliefs

23. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Nationality
Education Interests
Race
Intelligence Politics
Beliefs

24. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Nationality
Education Interests
Race
Intelligence Religion Politics
Beliefs

25. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Nationality
Education Interests
Race
Intelligence Religion Politics
Language
Beliefs

26. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Nationality
Education Interests
Race
Intelligence Religion Politics
Gender
Language
Beliefs

27. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Nationality
Education Interests
Race
Intelligence Religion Politics
Gender
Language Economic Status
Beliefs

28. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Nationality
Education Interests
Race
Intelligence Religion Politics
Gender
Language Economic Status
Beliefs
Experience

29. What is it? Continued
What factors influence how we ‘see’ the world?
Family
Nationality
Education Interests
Race
Intelligence Religion Politics
Gender
Language Economic Status
Age
Beliefs
Experience

31. Perspectives

32. Perspectives
Is it a young lady or old
woman?

33. Perspectives
Is it a young lady or old
woman?

35. Perspectives

36. Perspectives
Is it a chalice or two people
staring at each other ?

37. Perspectives
Is it a chalice or two people
staring at each other ?

39. Types of Literary
Theories

41. 1. Archetypal Theory

42. 1. Archetypal Theory
What is an archetype?

43. 1. Archetypal Theory
What is an archetype?
archetype ¦ ärk(i) tīp¦

44. 1. Archetypal Theory
What is an archetype?
archetype ¦ ärk(i) tīp¦
noun

45. 1. Archetypal Theory
What is an archetype?
archetype ¦ ärk(i) tīp¦
noun
a very typical example of a certain person or thing : the
book is a perfect archetype of the genre. See note at model .

46. 1. Archetypal Theory
What is an archetype?
archetype ¦ ärk(i) tīp¦
noun
a very typical example of a certain person or thing : the
book is a perfect archetype of the genre. See note at model .
• an original that has been imitated : the archetype of faith
is Abraham.

47. 1. Archetypal Theory
What is an archetype?
archetype ¦ ärk(i) tīp¦
noun
a very typical example of a certain person or thing : the
book is a perfect archetype of the genre. See note at model .
• an original that has been imitated : the archetype of faith
is Abraham.
• a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art, or
mythology : mythological archetypes of good and evil.

49. A type of
blueprint

50. A type of
blueprint
Archetypal hero?

51. A type of
blueprint
Archetypal hero?

52. A type of
blueprint
Archetypal hero?
The hero all others are
based upon?

53. A type of
blueprint
Archetypal hero?
The hero all others are
based upon?

55. Archetypal Theory

56. Archetypal Theory
“Hero”

57. Archetypal Theory
“Hero”
Entertainment Weekly’s List of top ten heroes:

58. Archetypal Theory
“Hero”
Entertainment Weekly’s List of top ten heroes:

59. Archetypal Theory
“Hero”
Entertainment Weekly’s List of top ten heroes:

60. Archetypal Theory
“Hero”
Entertainment Weekly’s List of top ten heroes:

61. Archetypal Theory
“Hero”
Entertainment Weekly’s List of top ten heroes:

62. Archetypal Theory
“Hero”
Entertainment Weekly’s List of top ten heroes:

63. Archetypal Theory
“Hero”
Entertainment Weekly’s List of top ten heroes:

64. Archetypal Theory
“Hero”
Entertainment Weekly’s List of top ten heroes:

65. Archetypal Theory
“Hero”
Entertainment Weekly’s List of top ten heroes:

66. Archetypal Theory
“Hero”
Entertainment Weekly’s List of top ten heroes:

67. Archetypal Theory
“Hero”
Entertainment Weekly’s List of top ten heroes:

69. Archetypal Theory

70. Archetypal Theory
Think of some of the archetypal traits

71. Archetypal Theory
Think of some of the archetypal traits
orphaned/unknown or odd circumstances around birth
and parents.

72. Archetypal Theory
Think of some of the archetypal traits
orphaned/unknown or odd circumstances around birth
and parents.
destined to be the ‘chosen’ one.

73. Archetypal Theory
Think of some of the archetypal traits
orphaned/unknown or odd circumstances around birth
and parents.
destined to be the ‘chosen’ one.
great responsibility.

74. Archetypal Theory
Think of some of the archetypal traits
orphaned/unknown or odd circumstances around birth
and parents.
destined to be the ‘chosen’ one.
great responsibility.
accomplishes a great feat.

75. Archetypal Theory
Think of some of the archetypal traits
orphaned/unknown or odd circumstances around birth
and parents.
destined to be the ‘chosen’ one.
great responsibility.
accomplishes a great feat.
has supernatural aid or help.

76. Archetypal Theory
Think of some of the archetypal traits
orphaned/unknown or odd circumstances around birth
and parents.
destined to be the ‘chosen’ one.
great responsibility.
accomplishes a great feat.
has supernatural aid or help.
must face a dangerous journey

77. Archetypal Theory
Think of some of the archetypal traits
orphaned/unknown or odd circumstances around birth
and parents.
destined to be the ‘chosen’ one.
great responsibility.
accomplishes a great feat.
has supernatural aid or help.
must face a dangerous journey
often ‘dies’ to save humanity and is reborn.

79. Archetypal Theory

80. Archetypal Theory
Sound familiar?

81. Archetypal Theory
Sound familiar?

82. Archetypal Theory
Sound familiar?

83. Archetypal Theory
Sound familiar?

84. Archetypal Theory
Sound familiar?

85. Archetypal Theory
Sound familiar?

87. Archetypal

88. Archetypal
Golden Bough

89. Archetypal
Golden Bough
The works of Carl Jung

90. Archetypal
Golden Bough
The works of Carl Jung
Every culture has its own version of

91. Archetypal
Golden Bough
The works of Carl Jung
Every culture has its own version of
the devil

92. Archetypal
Golden Bough
The works of Carl Jung
Every culture has its own version of
the devil
creation myth

93. Archetypal
Golden Bough
The works of Carl Jung
Every culture has its own version of
the devil
creation myth
Deity

94. Archetypal
Golden Bough
The works of Carl Jung
Every culture has its own version of
the devil
creation myth
Deity
Trickster

95. Archetypal
Golden Bough
The works of Carl Jung
Every culture has its own version of
the devil
creation myth
Deity
Trickster
Good and Evil

97. What is the horror
film archetype?

98. What is the horror
film archetype?

100. What real life killer serves as
an archetype for the greatest
movie killers?

101. What real life killer serves as
an archetype for the greatest
movie killers?

102. What real life killer serves as
an archetype for the greatest
movie killers?

103. What real life killer serves as
an archetype for the greatest
movie killers?

104. What real life killer serves as
an archetype for the greatest
movie killers?

106. 2. Feminism/Gender
Theory

107. 2. Feminism/Gender
Theory
How do films and stories address the issue of
gender?

108. 2. Feminism/Gender
Theory
How do films and stories address the issue of
gender?
“Well behaved women rarely make
history.”

110. Feminism

111. Feminism
Who is the villain of
Beowulf?

112. Feminism
Who is the villain of
Beowulf?

114. Feminism

115. In reality?
Feminism

116. In reality?
Feminism

118. Feminism

119. Feminism
Examine how authors
treat female characters

120. Feminism
Examine how authors
treat female characters

121. Feminism
Examine how authors
treat female characters
Are they sexist?

122. Feminism
Examine how authors
treat female characters
Are they sexist?

123. Feminism
Examine how authors
treat female characters
Are they sexist?
Do they exploit females?

124. Feminism
Examine how authors
treat female characters
Are they sexist?
Do they exploit females?

125. Feminism
Examine how authors
treat female characters
Are they sexist?
Do they exploit females?

127. How are stereotypes
addressed?

128. How are stereotypes
addressed?