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

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the absolute, end result of theory, as expressed in Chapter 1, "What is Theory?"

2. Thanks to cultural studies, what has happened to many previously discarded works?

3. English literature is known for being ____________.

4. Thanks to cultural studies, the literary canon has succeeded in _____________.

5. In Chapter 3, "Literature and Cultural Studies," what does the production of literature drive in society?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What do theorists mean when they say that a reader is limited by his "horizon of expectations"?

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

4. Why did Foucault consider "The History of Sexuality" to be repressed?

5. Why is theory a difficult subject from which to obtain an absolute, according to Culler?

6. According to Chapter 2, what style and subject make up literature?

7. What types of writing topics have been used to create literary theory and why?

8. What is the goal of cultural studies?

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

10. Based on Chapter 1, what is the purpose of the critique that often comes from literary theory?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Novels, like any good form of literature, offer the opportunity to educate the reader about different lifestyles and social injustice. Write an essay examining how and why the structure and delivery of a novel can achieve these objectives, citing examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Create an argument either supporting or refuting the following statement, citing examples from the text: Linguists argue that the very use of words can change the interpretation of a text based on who is reading it.

Essay Topic 3

Much English literature sought to control the masses and instill a sense of national pride. Create an argument for or against the following topic, citing specific examples from the text: Although literature sought to control the masses, this technique often backfired. Literature allowed the lower class to understand the difference in the class system. This instilled a desire for the lower class to obtain the same lifestyle as the upper class.

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This section contains 667 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample