View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Culler reports that people in the 19th century believed that the "true nature" of an individual could be found in his ___________.

2. What nationality was Rousseau?

3. What is the goal of cultural studies, according to Chapter 3?

4. According to Foucault's beliefs, what does society determine?

5. According to Culler, what do literary theorists work to expose in literature?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Culler believe that Shakespeare has remained widely read and discussed while other writers from that time period have not?

2. In Chapter 3, what are the two topics on which cultural studies and literary theory attempt to compromise?

3. Theorists believe it is important to challenge ideas presented in literature for what reason?

4. Modern Western literature can be traced back to what group and when?

5. Compare the approach used by theorists when analyzing cultural studies versus literary theory.

6. According to the Western culture, what does language help to express?

7. Why is publishing considered a stamp of approval on a literary work?

8. According to Chapter 4, "Meaning and Interpretation," what does society have to do with the understanding of words?

9. According to Noam Chomsky, linguists help raise the quality of language for what purpose?

10. According to Chapter 3, how have cultural studies expanded the literary canon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The use of the individual or the "I" as a focal point in literature causes alarm for some theorists, as some of them feel that the focus on the individual detracts from potential influence on a group mentality. Write an essay arguing for or against this concern, citing examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the five points of literature, citing specific examples to illustrate each point.

Essay Topic 3

Readers identify with characters in literature. Theorists believe this identification can accomplish many things, both on a personal and societal level. Write an essay analyzing the many ways reader identification can influence a reader, citing examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 632 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample