Eagleton’s Literary Theory: Definition, Ideology, and Concepts

Eagleton: What is Literature?

1. Criteria for a Definition of Literature

Literature (LIT): Literature uses language in its own way, transforming and intensifying ordinary language. It is defined not according to whether it is imaginative fiction, but because the language is used in particular ways.

2. Literariness

Literariness is the special use of language distinct from ordinary language. It can be found in literary texts and also outside these. It refers to the term as a function of the differential

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Generative Grammar: Core Concepts and Syntactic Theories

Unit 1: Introduction to Generative Grammar

Basic Syntactic Notions

Constituency & Hierarchical Structure: Sentences consist of smaller units (constituents) forming hierarchical structures, represented through tree diagrams or bracketing. Constituents are groups of words that function as a single unit.

Phrase Structure Rules (PSRs): Define how words form phrases and sentences.

NP → (D) (AdjP+) N (PP+)

VP → (AdvP+) V (NP) ({NP/CP}) (AdvP+) (PP+)

TP → {NP/CP} (T) VP

Constituency Tests:

  • Replacement:
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Symbolism and Darkness in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness

Themes and Symbolism in Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a deeply contemplative, symbolic piece of literature. Superficially, the story follows the journey of a man named Marlow, working for an ivory company and seeking adventure, deep into sub-Saharan Africa. On a deeper level, however, the story explores the titular “darkness,” revealing it represents the evil residing in the hearts of men.

Kurtz’s Final Moments and Enigmatic Words

Both Kurtz and Marlow experience a brief interlude,

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Linguistic Terms: Auxiliary Verbs, Syntax, and Speech Perception

Chapter 6: Auxiliary Verbs and Syntax

Auxiliary Verbs: Often informally known as “helping verbs,” a category of words that accompany a main verb. Includes was, is, can, should, does, and did.

Compositionality: The concept that there are fixed rules for combining units of language in terms of their form that result in fixed meaning relationships between the words that are joined together.

Constituent: A syntactic category consisting of a word or (more often) a group of words (e.g., noun phrase,

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Textual Cohesion, Coherence, and Adequacy Analysis

Textual Analysis: Cohesion, Coherence, and Adequacy

Main Ideas

  • Subsections
  • Structure: Divide the text into cores (linear, convergent, divergent, concentric, chaotic) (deductive, inductive, circular).
  • Issue: Abstract, without verbs.
  • Summary: No descriptions and examples without changing the subject.

Cohesion

Cohesion involves the repetition of words, synonyms, antonyms, ellipsis (when a sentence is missing the subject or the verb), and connectors (conjunctions, adverbs, conjunctive or adverbial phrases,

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Jorge Guillén and Pedro Salinas: Poems Analysis

Jorge Guillén – Beyond

Topic: The author, still half asleep, is surprised by the arrival of the morning, a sunny morning in which light is increasing. It is the desire to live and the rationale of its existence, the importance of being. The author expresses the importance of being discovered at dawn that day.

Questions

1. Summarize in 4 lines, the meaning of the text:

He wakes up from a dream and realizes. As he wakes up, he notices his amazement at everything he sees, but always with a sense of optimism.

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