Explain the concept of 'literary theory' and name two critical approaches used in English studies.

• A. Literary theory provides frameworks for interpreting texts; examples: New Criticism (close reading) and Feminist Theory (gender, power, representation).
• B. Theory is personal preference with no structure.
• C. Theory applies only to poetry.
• D. Theory replaces basic reading skills.

Answer: (A)

Literary theory offers frameworks for interpreting texts, giving tools to analyze how language, form, and social context shape meaning. One widely taught approach is New Criticism, which focuses on close reading of the text itself—examining imagery, structure, and poetic devices to reveal how meaning is created within the work, without bringing in the author’s life or outside context. Another common approach is Feminist Theory, which looks at how gender, power, and representation influence a text and its interpretation, asking who is included or excluded, who speaks, and how social norms shape what the work communicates. These examples show how theory provides structured ways to read literature from different angles, rather than relying on personal preference, limiting it to poetry, or replacing basic reading skills.