Coffield,+Anthony



Terry Eagleton

Introduction
Terry Eagleton is most well known for his views and acts in literacy theory. After writing over fifty books and hundreds of articles while teaching courses and doing lectures he has still had time to make many well know critical analyzes of written text. Terry Eagleton is most known for being a critical critic and in some cases opens the readers eyes to many things that they may not have seen before.

Biography Terry Eagleton was born on February 22nd 1943. He is still living today giving lectures and lessons on his theories and written texts. Eagleton joined the English and Creative Writing department of Lancaster University in 2008 and currently he is doing lectures for undergraduate students at Lancaster and is doing one on one sessions for Post-graduate students via scheduling. Eagleton is also doing lectures at various universities for his works in Marxist theory. Eagleton obtained his PhD from Combridge university where he than became the youngest man to join the Jesus College, Cambridge, since the eighteenth century.

Overview Terry Eagleton is a strong believer in Marxist and Deconstruction literary theory. Eaglton believes that of a deconstructive theory of which we tear apart a from what it means and takes it to a new definition of what it could also mean. He speaks mainly of the "inside" and "outside" of the structure. There are always two ways of looking at something and in this case with have those with these two things. He also takes into consideration the social structure as his Marxist theory where he states that a theorist can take apart a text using that of a time line and the history with the social structure at the period the text was written, though, without using the "inside" and "outside" you only have one way to turn and the one way is that of Marxist. As a theorist, there must be a line between these where there is more than one anwser. There is always going to be more than one way to look at something and this way can not be locked away hidden from all. Without viewing both sides the text can not be viewed in a whole. This theory moves forward from both Marxist and Deconstruction. Deconstruction being that there is one reading and an opposite reading for that reading. There must be more than those two ways to look at it. Adding Marxist, there is a social standard that must be taken into consideration and must be viewed as well. These two together show that the believes and views of the text will change substantially and there will be more than just the two readings. The readings will come through and through again and again. Somebody new will come in and find a new reading and this will go on and on until there is no people left to find an alternate reading. The text was laid out before the reader to be read. Though as common practice a reader does not read what is on the page and automatically think that the author meant that, instead the reader takes the text and alters it for his or her mind to change and view in a different way. This is the theory that Deconstruction is a main focus on, there is more than one way to view a work. Then coming for a new social standard will also change that original view into something completely new. media type="youtube" key="DJePGD7D_RQ" width="425" height="350" align="left"

Review ** Terry Eagleton’s piece on Marxism and deconstruction **is very complex and at times hard to understand. There is a lot of information that is tied into a small area with very little examples to help move the piece and teach what is being said. This is an article that must be read multiple times and with a dictionary at your side to understand to the highest extent. Although it is difficult the information is more than accepted for the time taken to understand. The information is very important and gives the reader a new understand on a theory that has become complex tying two theories together. Once the bulk of the article has been read for the first time the understanding of it becomes more clear. The second time would probably become even clearer when the dictionary is used because of Eagleton's word choice at times is that of complexity. After getting past the hard to read words and the many definitions that are not known, Eagleton shows his colors with decades of knowledge that flow onto paper as if he was talking one on one with the reader. The two subjects may be broad and hard to understand, Eagleton truly tries to make them as understanding as possible.

Critical Response

Wilding states the Eagleton's article "Marxism and Literary Critic" is not that of an introduction that is stuck in the past. "The confines of space limited what could be dealt with in this study; at the same time its brevity will make it especially appealing to those who want a quick introduction to the subject, and this is unfortunate since its approach is so partial. As an introductory study it could be very misleading, but as introducing discussion into an area already informed by wider materials, ideas, and texts, it has its provocative use." (151) Wilding is stating that the theory Eagleton is using does not allow for multiple areas of study. Using the four points that Eagleton has set up does not allow one to expand their theory. Wilding seems to be decent with Eaglton though Wilding does feel that Eagleton needs more work and structure, as can be said from this article. Muller did a book review on Eagleton's "Marxism and Literary Criticism" staying that Eagleton's book is "a welcome addition to the evaluative material already in existence. Muller gives Eagleton everything but disrespect in the literary world and through the book review. Stated that Eagleton does a very good job explaining his theory and walking through the process. As for Muller, there is a good transition from Wilding's statements and more respect for Eagleton.

Sources and related links

Eagleton, Terry. "Marxism and Deconstruction." Marxism and the Crisis of the World (Autumn, 1981), pp. 477-488 Contemporary literature Vol. 22, No. 4

Muller, Gari R. "Marxism and Literary Criticism (Book Review)." //Library Journal// 101.21 (1976): 2490. //Academic Search Premier//. EBSCO. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.

Wilding, Michael. "Marxism and Literary Criticism." //Modern Language Review// 74.1 (1979): 151-153. //Academic Search Premier//. EBSCO. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.

http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/gradschool/profiles/Terry-Eagleton/English/

http://www.philosophynow.org/issue55/After_Theory_by_Terry_Eagleton

http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=authC2D9C28A1123b1D819TsK1844CB4