Terry Eagleton

1. Terry Eagleton A British literary critic. Professor of Cultural theory. Student of the Marxist literary and culture critic Raymond Williams.

2. Terry Eagleton (1943-) • In Cultural and Anarchy, Arnold claims that art, literature, and culture confer “greatness and a noble spirit” on those who appreciate them…the means to avoid anarchy (2240). • Eagleton argued that texts actively produce ideology rather than merely reflect it (2241).

3. Literary Theory: An IntroductionFrom Chapter 1. The Rise of English

4. Introduction • Literature, in the meaning of the word we have inherited, is an ideology(2243). • It is the most intimate relations to questions of social power (2243). • The growth of English studies in the later nineteenth century, one could do worse than reply: ‘the failure of religion’ (2243).

5. Religion • An extremely effective form of ideological control. • An excellent social ‘cement’. • Absolute. • A pacifying influence (2244).

6. The Failure of Religion • Mid-Victorian period Religion was influenced by 1. Scientific discovery. 2. Social change.

7. English Literature • George Gordon : ‘England is sick, and…English Literature must save it” (2244). • A triple function: • To delight. • To instruct. • To save our souls and heal the State (2244).

8. Mathew Arnold • Sensitive to the needs of social class… (2244). • The urgent social need…is to Hellenize or cultivate the philistine middle class. • By transfusing them something of the traditional style of aristocracy.

9. Quotation • [T]hese masses, eager to enter into possession of the world, to gain a more vivid sense of their own life and activity (2245). • If these classes cannot win their sympathy or give them their direction, society is in danger of falling into anarchy (2245).

10. If the masses are not thrown a few novels, they may react by throwing up a few barricades (2245).

11. English is Suitable for Ideological Enterprise • As a liberal, humanizing pursuit, it could provide a potent antidote to political bigotry and ideological extremism (2245). • It would give them a pride in their national language and literature (2246). • The duties as citizen. • [Literature] is moral ideology for the modern age (2247).

12. Experiential Natural of Literature • [L]iterature works primarily by emotion and experience…(2246). • Experience: (2246) • Homeland of ideology • Vicarious self-fulfillment • Through reading • Even more real

13. Feminine Aspect • The ‘softening’ and ‘humanizing’ effects of English…(2247). • The rise of English. • Women’s education. • English is a subject for women (2248).

14. Masculine Aspect • 1914 in the first imperialist world war… • The urgent need for • a sense of national mission • and identity • Englishliterature rather than • English literature. • Display cultural superiority to their envying colonial peoples (2248).

15. English as a Subject • English was literally the poor men’s Classics — a way of providing a cheapish ‘liberal education’…(2247). • The definition of an academic subject was what could be examined, and since English was no more than idle gossip about literary taste… (2248). • English was not qualified enough to be a proper academic subject.