Marxist Literary Criticism
Marxist Literary Criticism
Marxist Literary Criticism
Literary
Criticism
Who
started it?
KARL MARX &
FRIEDRICH ENGELS
Engels and Marx founded the social and economic system of Marxism in
the 19th century.
What is Marxist Literary
Criticism
• Marxist Criticism is the belief that literature reflects this class struggle and
materialism. Marxist literary criticism bases itself on Marx and Engel's theory
that class struggle is an ongoing historical reality.
• Class, oppression, power, economy and politics are some of the main elements
that should be considered in a Marxist literary criticism.
General Principles of
Marxist Criticism
• It attempts to clarify the relationship of literary work to social reality.
• It believes that the literary work has ALWAYS a relationship to the society.
• It judges literature by how it represents the main struggles for power, how it
may influence those struggles.
Did you know that…
1. Economic Power
2. Materialism vs Spirituality
3. Class Conflict
4. Art, Literature, and Ideologies
How to Analyze Literary Text using
Marxist Approach
1 Approach the text with an eye for how the characters interact.
2 Evaluate the vocational roles of all characters.
3 Look at how characters use their free time
4 Assess the role of government in the piece of literature
5 Use Marxist writers as a guide.
- End -
Thank you for listening!
Presented by:
Irish Apolonio
Krysthel Anne Cabillo
Jennefer Casas