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Psychoanalysis A Comprehensive Guide For UGC NET English

Important Literary Theory in the paspective of UGC NET English Exam

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Psychoanalysis A Comprehensive Guide For UGC NET English

Important Literary Theory in the paspective of UGC NET English Exam

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Ribakar 001
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Psychoanalysis: A Comprehensive Guide for UGC NET English

Psychoanalysis is both a psychological theory and a method of interpretation that originated


with Sigmund Freud in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In literary studies, psychoanalytic
criticism examines texts through the lens of unconscious desires, conflicts, and motivations,
focusing on the psychological dimensions of characters, authors, and readers. This theory is a
key topic in literary criticism, making it significant for UGC NET English.

1. Definition of Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is a theory of the human mind and behavior that explores unconscious drives,
desires, and conflicts. In literary criticism, it analyzes how these elements manifest in texts and
influence their meaning.

2. Origins of Psychoanalysis

1. Sigmund Freud (1856–1939):


o Founder of psychoanalysis.
o Key works: The Interpretation of Dreams (1900), Beyond the Pleasure
Principle (1920), Civilization and Its Discontents (1930).
o Central ideas:
▪ Unconscious Mind: Human behavior and creativity are influenced by
unconscious drives.
▪ Tripartite Model of the Mind:
▪ Id: The instinctual, pleasure-driven part of the psyche.
▪ Ego: The rational, reality-oriented mediator.
▪ Superego: The moral conscience, shaped by societal norms.
▪ Oedipus Complex: Describes a child’s unconscious desire for the
opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent.
2. Jacques Lacan (1901–1981):
o A French psychoanalyst who reinterpreted Freud’s ideas.
o Key concepts:
▪ Mirror Stage: The phase when an infant recognizes itself in a mirror,
forming the ego.
▪ Symbolic Order: The stage where language and societal structures
dominate human identity.
▪ Desire and Lack: Human desire is driven by an inherent sense of
incompleteness.
3. Carl Jung (1875–1961):
o Founder of analytical psychology, diverging from Freud.
o Key ideas:
▪ Collective Unconscious: A shared repository of archetypes and
myths across cultures.
▪ Archetypes: Universal symbols (e.g., Hero, Shadow, Mother) that
shape human experience and literature.

3. Key Concepts in Psychoanalytic Literary Criticism

1. Unconscious Mind:
o Literature expresses the unconscious desires and conflicts of the author and
characters.
2. Dream Analysis:
o Texts are treated like dreams, revealing latent meanings beneath surface
narratives.
3. Freudian Defense Mechanisms:
o Repression, Projection, and Sublimation are analyzed in characters and
plots.
4. Oedipus Complex:
o Explored in family dynamics and relationships in literature (e.g., Hamlet).
5. Lacanian Psychoanalysis:
o Focuses on language, identity, and the symbolic order in literature.
6. Archetypes (Jung):
o Recurring symbols and themes reveal the collective unconscious.

4. Applications of Psychoanalysis in Literary Criticism

1. Character Analysis:
o Example: Hamlet’s indecision can be analyzed through Freudian repression
and Oedipal conflict.
2. Authorial Psychology:
o Analyzing an author’s unconscious desires and conflicts as expressed in
their works.
3. Symbolism and Imagery:
o Example: The green light in The Great Gatsby as a symbol of unattainable
desire.
4. Reader Response:
o How a reader’s unconscious influences their interpretation of a text.
5. Cultural and Mythological Analysis:
o Jungian archetypes in epics like The Odyssey or modern works like The Lord
of the Rings.
5. Key Works in Psychoanalytic Criticism

1. Freud’s Theories in Literature:


o The Interpretation of Dreams (1900): Literature as an expression of repressed
desires.
o Totem and Taboo (1913): Myths and rituals reflecting primal human conflicts.
2. Lacan’s Contribution:
o Écrits (1966): Explores the symbolic order, language, and the unconscious.
3. Jung’s Analytical Psychology:
o The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious (1959): Myth and literature
as expressions of universal archetypes.
4. Applied Psychoanalysis in Literature:
o Harold Bloom’s The Anxiety of Influence (1973): Examines the unconscious
rivalry between poets and their predecessors.

6. Examples of Psychoanalytic Analysis

1. Shakespeare’s Hamlet:
o Freud’s Oedipus Complex: Hamlet’s hesitation to kill Claudius stems from
repressed desires for his mother and identification with Claudius.
o Jungian Archetype: Hamlet as the “Hero” confronting the “Shadow”
(Claudius).
2. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein:
o Freudian Guilt and Repression: Victor Frankenstein’s creation as a
manifestation of repressed guilt and fear.
o Lacanian Desire: The monster as a symbol of Victor’s unfulfilled desires.
3. Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights:
o Freud: Catherine and Heathcliff’s destructive passion as expressions of the
id overpowering the superego.
o Jung: Heathcliff as the “Shadow” archetype embodying chaos and darkness.
4. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby:
o Freudian Desire: Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy reflects an idealized,
unattainable past.
o Lacanian Lack: The green light symbolizes the perpetual incompleteness of
desire.
7. Critiques of Psychoanalysis

1. Scientific Validity:
o Critics argue that Freud’s theories lack empirical evidence and are overly
speculative.
2. Overemphasis on Sexuality:
o Freudian criticism is often critiqued for reducing complex behaviors and
texts to sexual drives.
3. Neglect of Social Context:
o Psychoanalysis focuses on individual psychology, often ignoring broader
social and cultural factors.
4. Limitations in Interpretation:
o Texts risk being overanalyzed, with critics projecting their own psychological
theories onto them.

8. UGC NET English: Previous Year Questions on Psychoanalysis


Question 1

"Which of the following critics is associated with the concept of the Oedipus Complex?"

• Options:
A. Jacques Derrida
B. Sigmund Freud
C. Carl Jung
D. Jacques Lacan
• Correct Answer: B. Sigmund Freud

Question 2

"Who proposed the idea of the 'Mirror Stage'?"

• Answer: Jacques Lacan

Question 3

"What is the 'Id' in Freudian psychoanalysis?"

• Answer: The part of the psyche that operates on instinct and seeks pleasure.
Question 4

"In psychoanalytic criticism, which term describes the universal symbols found in myths and
literature?"

• Answer: Archetypes

Question 5

"Which psychoanalyst emphasized the collective unconscious?"

• Answer: Carl Jung

Question 6

"In Lacanian psychoanalysis, what does the 'Symbolic Order' refer to?"

• Answer: The stage where language and societal norms structure identity.

9. Tips for UGC NET Preparation

1. Understand Freudian Theories:


o Focus on concepts like the Oedipus Complex, repression, and dream
analysis.
2. Study Lacanian Psychoanalysis:
o Pay attention to the Mirror Stage and symbolic order.
3. Compare Freud and Jung:
o Highlight differences, such as the focus on sexuality (Freud) vs. archetypes
(Jung).
4. Analyze Literary Texts:
o Practice applying psychoanalytic criticism to canonical works.
5. Review Past Papers:
o Familiarize yourself with recurring psychoanalysis-related questions.

Conclusion

Psychoanalysis offers a powerful lens for understanding the psychological dimensions of


literature. By mastering its key concepts, thinkers, and applications, UGC NET English
candidates can confidently analyze texts and answer related questions. Combining Freud’s
foundational theories, Jung’s archetypal analysis, and Lacan’s focus on language ensures a well-
rounded understanding of this critical approach.

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