Literary Theories
This theory explores the unconscious mind, including dreams, fears, and hidden desires.
The Psychodynamic perspective
The dangerous drug in the story.
What is Substance D?
The “Coagula procedure” allows rich individuals to do this.
What is transfer their consciousness into another person’s body?
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words (e.g., “Peter Piper”).
What is alliteration?
Pecola believes blue eyes will give her this.
What is beauty / acceptance / love?
This theory might analyze how a character’s self-hatred reflects internalized oppression caused by dominant cultural standards.
The Postcolonial perspective
The story shows how addiction can destroy this, as seen in Arctor’s divided self.
What is identity (or sense of self)?
This eerie activity allows the family to hypnotize Chris.
What is stirring the teacup (hypnosis)?
Words like “quickly,” “very,” and “carefully” are this type of word.
What are adverbs?
This object represents white beauty standards in the novel.
What is the Shirley Temple doll?
Feminist critics often examine how texts reinforce or challenge this system of male dominance.
What is the patriarchy?
Substance D affects communication between these two parts of the brain.
What are the left and right hemispheres?
The “Sunken Place” symbolizes this psychological condition.
What is loss of control / powerlessness / marginalization?
This word describes something that is only on the surface and not deep.
What is superficial?
From a feminist perspective, the novel critiques how women are valued based on this.
What is appearance / beauty?
Which two theories would best analyze how beauty standards are shaped by both gender and race?
What are Feminism and Post-colonialism?
The scramble suit symbolizes this idea about identity.
What is loss of identity / fragmented identity?
Chris uses this physical detail to escape his hypnosis.
What is stuffing his ears with cotton?
This word means “certain to happen; unavoidable.”
What is inevitable?
Pecola goes to this man, believing he can grant her blue eyes.
Who is Soaphead Church?
This Marxist concept describes how people or labor are treated like objects to be used.
What is commodification?
The novel suggests that surveillance systems can lead to this problem.
What is loss of privacy or dehumanization?
From a Marxist perspective, the Armitage family treats Black bodies as this.
What are commodities or resources?
Very detailed or complicated.
What is intricate?
The novel shows how racism becomes internalized, causing characters to feel this about themselves.
What is self-hatred?