NAME: SIMON IYANUOLUWA GRACE

MATRIC NO: 23130202091

DEPARTMENT: B.A ENGLISH

COURSE CODE: LIT 104 (INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY STUDIES)

LECTURER IN CHARGE : MR C.I ANAKORO

QUESTIONS:

(a) Outline any five strands of literary criticism and comment on three of them,
briefly.

(b) Present an analysis of one specific poem of your choice, noting subject
matter, diction and mood. The sociological strand of literary criticism should be
applied in your analysis.
Strands of Literary Criticism
1. Formalism: This approach focuses on the formal elements of a literary work, such as structure, style,
and language, without considering the author's background or historical context. Formalist critics seek
to analyze the text itself in isolation.

2. Historicism: Historicism examines literary works in relation to the historical and cultural context in
which they were written, emphasizing the importance of understanding the social, political, and
intellectual factors that influenced the creation of the text.

3. Feminist Criticism: Feminist criticism explores literature through the lens of gender and the
representation of women. It seeks to uncover and challenge patriarchal norms and assumptions
embedded in literary texts, as well as to highlight women's contributions to literature.

4. Psychoanalytic Criticism: Psychoanalytic criticism applies psychoanalytic theory to literature,

interpreting characters, themes, and symbols in terms of unconscious desires and motivations. It often
delves into the psychological complexities of the author and characters.

5. Postcolonial Criticism: Postcolonial criticism examines literature produced in societies that have been
colonized, focusing on themes of identity, power, and resistance. It aims to challenge colonial
dominance and privilege, shedding light on the marginalized voices and experiences within literature.

Brief Comment on Selected Strands

- Formalism: Formalist criticism can provide valuable insights into the technical aspects of a literary
work, offering a deep analysis of its structure and craft. However, it can be criticized for isolating the text
from its broader context, potentially overlooking important historical or cultural factors that influenced
its creation. Formalist criticism also focuses on the literary work as a self-contained, autonomous entity,
examining its inherent artistic and aesthetic qualities. It analyzes the text's structure, language, imagery,
and symbolism, without considering external contexts like history, biography, or culture. Formalist critics
seek to uncover the work's underlying patterns, unity, and coherence, appreciating its artistic
craftsmanship and intrinsic value. By emphasizing the text's formal elements, formalist criticism aims to
understand the work's timeless and universal qualities, independent of external influences or ideologies.

- Feminist Criticism: Feminist criticism brings attention to gender dynamics and inequalities present in
literature, shedding light on the ways in which women have been marginalized or misrepresented. By
promoting inclusivity and representation, feminist criticism fosters a more diverse and nuanced
understanding of literary texts. Feminist criticism also examines literature through a gender-focused
lens, exploring how works represent female experiences, challenge patriarchal norms, and construct
gender roles. It analyzes how texts portray women's lives, relationships, and struggles, and how they
reinforce or subvert gender stereotypes. Feminist critics seek to uncover the social, cultural, and political
contexts that shape gender dynamics in literature, promoting gender equality and challenging
patriarchal biases. By highlighting female voices and perspectives, feminist criticism aims to create a
more inclusive and equitable understanding of literature and society.
- Postcolonial Criticism: Postcolonial criticism challenges colonial power structures within literature,
highlighting the voices and experiences of those who have been historically oppressed. By centering
marginalized perspectives, postcolonial criticism contributes to a more comprehensive examination of
the impacts of imperialism and colonization on literature. Postcolonial criticism also examines how
literature reflects and challenges the cultural, political, and economic legacies of colonialism and
imperialism. It analyzes how works represent the experiences of marginalized cultures, challenge
dominant narratives, and negotiate identity, power, and resistance. This critique uncovers the complex
dynamics of cultural exchange, appropriation, and hybridity, highlighting the voices and perspectives of
the formerly colonized, It seeks to decolonize literature and promote a more inclusive understanding of
cultural diversity.

Historicism criticism also examines literature within its historical context, exploring how the text reflects,
shapes, and is shaped by the social, political, and cultural conditions of its time. This approach considers
the author's intentions, the audience's reception, and the historical events, movements, and ideologies
that influenced the work's creation and interpretation. Historicist critics aim to uncover the complex
interplay between literature and history, revealing how the text both reflects and challenges the
dominant ideologies, power structures, and cultural values of its era. By situating the work in its
historical moment, historicism criticism provides a nuanced understanding of the text's significance and
relevance. Historicism criticism also recognizes that literary works can be influenced by the author's
personal experiences, social class, gender, race, and other factors that shape their perspective. By
considering these contextual factors, historicist critics can uncover how the text reinforces or challenges
dominant ideologies, such as colonialism, patriarchy, or capitalism. This approach highlights the literary
work as a product of its time, while also acknowledging its potential to transcend its historical context
and speak to universal human experiences. By situating the text in its historical context, historicism
criticism provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between literature and
history.

Psychoanalytic criticism applies the principles of psychoanalysis to literary analysis, exploring how the
text reveals the unconscious desires, repressed memories, and unresolved conflicts of its characters and
authors. This approach examines how the text's language, imagery, and symbolism reflect the
psychological dynamics of the human psyche, such as the Oedipus complex, repression, and the struggle
between the conscious and unconscious mind. Psychoanalytic critics aim to uncover the underlying
psychological tensions and desires that drive the characters' actions and the author's creative choices,
revealing the deeper psychological meanings and significance of the text. Psychoanalytic criticism also
explores how literature reflects the author's own psychological struggles and unconscious desires, often
manifesting in themes, motifs, and character dynamics. By analyzing the text through a psychoanalytic
lens, critics can uncover the author's repressed thoughts, desires, and conflicts, which may be hidden
even from the author themselves. This approach sees literature as a form of psychological expression,
where the author's unconscious mind shapes the narrative, characters, and symbolism, offering a unique
window into the human psyche. Psychoanalytic criticism can also reveal how literature grapples with
universal human anxieties, desires, and fears, such as the fear of death, desire for power, or anxiety
around identity. By examining how texts represent and resolve these psychological conflicts, critics can
uncover the deeper psychological resonance of the work, and how it taps into the collective human
unconscious.

"Caged Bird"

"Caged Bird" is a powerful poem by Maya Angelou that explores the themes of freedom, oppression,
and the African American experience. The poem is a metaphorical description of a bird that is trapped in
a cage, singing a song of hope and longing for freedom.

The poem is often interpreted as a symbol of the struggles of African Americans, who have been
historically marginalized and oppressed. The caged bird represents the longing for freedom and equality,
and the song it sings is a symbol of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.

The poem is also a personal reflection of Maya Angelou's own experiences with racism and
discrimination, and is a testament to the power of art to express the human experience.

Some of the most famous lines from the poem include:

- "A free bird leaps on the back of the wind"

- "And dares to claim the sky"

- "But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams"

- "His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream"

- "His wings are clipped and his feet are tied"

- "So he opens not his beak"

- "The caged bird sings with a fearful trill"

- "Of things unknown but longed for still"

- "And his tune is heard on the distant hill"

Overall, "Caged Bird" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the human experience and the
longing for freedom and equality.

"Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou is a poem about the experiences of two birds, one free and the other
caged ¹ ² ³. The poem is an extended metaphor that describes the experiences of the African American
community, specifically the struggle for freedom and equality ¹ ² ³. The free bird represents white
Americans, while the caged bird represents African Americans ¹.

The mood of "Caged Bird" is one of sadness and longing, as the poem expresses the pain and frustration
of those who are oppressed ¹. The poem also has a sense of hope, as the caged bird sings of freedom,
even though it has never known it ². The overall mood is somber and reflective, with a focus on the
contrast between the freedom of the one.

The themes in "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou include ¹ ²:

- Freedom and confinement: The poem highlights the contrast between freedom and captivity, using the
metaphor of the two birds.

- Artistic expression as resistance: The caged bird's song symbolizes the power of artistic expression and
resistance against oppression.

- Civil rights: The poem is often interpreted as a representation of the African American experience and
the struggle for equality and freedom.