9. The cultural perspective
A. Multiple Choice Questions
1) Social beliefs, values, and norms belong to
a)
material culture.
b)
nonmaterial culture.
c)
both material and nonmaterial cultures.
d)
none of the.
2) Which of the following statements is true
about the cultural perspective?
a)
Culture and literature are separable.
b)
Literature influences and shapes culture.
c)
Culture influences and shapes literature.
d)
Literature is an autonomous entity.
3) Visual arts, buildings, and written records
belong to................
a)
material culture.
b)
nonmaterial culture.
c)
both material and nonmaterial cultures to
d)
none of them.
4. The concrete manifestation of culture is known
as...........................
a)
a cultural form.
b)
a cultural practice.
c)
cultural identity.
d)
a cultural meaning.
Extra MCQs
1) According to the cultural perspective, a literary work is
viewed as:
a)
Autonomous and separate from its cultural context
b)
Intricately linked to its cultural environment
c)
Dependent solely on its formal elements
d)
Uninfluenced by socio-cultural norms
2) How does postmodern culture influence literature, according
to the text?
a)
It has no influence on literary works
b)
It shapes the content and values of literary works
c)
It restricts the creative freedom of writers
d)
It emphasizes traditional storytelling techniques
3) What is the central assumption of the cultural perspective
regarding literature?
a)
Literature is a mirror of society
b)
Literary works are autonomous entities
c)
Writers create literature in isolation from culture
d)
Culture has no impact on the meaning of a literary work
4) How does the cultural perspective differ from Formalism and
New Criticism?
a)
It emphasizes the autonomy of literary works
b)
It focuses on the socio-cultural context of literature
c)
It ignores the role of culture in shaping literary meaning
d)
It disregards the importance of cultural norms
5) According to Sir Edward Tylor, what constitutes culture?
a)
Only socially acquired knowledge
b)
Art and customs acquired by individuals
c)
A complex whole of knowledge, beliefs, and practices
d)
Only artifacts produced by a society
6) How does culture influence our interpretation of other people's
ideas and actions?
a)
It has no influence on our interpretation
b)
It provides a framework for interpretation
c)
It limits our ability to understand others
d)
It is irrelevant to our interpretation process
7) In literary criticism, culture is seen as:
a)
A static and unchanging entity
b)
A perspective through which we perceive literature
c)
A product of individual creativity
d)
Unrelated to the interpretation of literary works
8) What are the three fundamental aspects of human experience
mentioned in the text?
a)
Behavior, knowledge, and artifacts
b)
Language, beliefs, and customs
c)
Art, law, and morals
d)
Ideas, actions, and words
9) How does a literary text relate to cultural artifacts?
a)
It is completely independent of them
b)
It reflects and incorporates them
c)
It dismisses their significance
d)
It rejects their influence on meaning
10) What role does cultural knowledge play in the cultural
perspective of literature?
a)
It is irrelevant to the interpretation of literary works
b)
It provides a framework for understanding literary meaning
c)
It has no impact on the cultural perspective
d)
It limits the interpretation process
11) According to Milton Albrecht, which relationship between
literature and society is almost universally accepted?
a)
Literature as a means to control society
b)
Literature as a reflection of culture
c)
Literature as an autonomous entity
d)
Literature as a product of individual creativity
12) What are examples of cultural forms mentioned in the text?
a)
Language, beliefs, values
b)
Food, clothes, houses
c)
Ideas, morals, customs
d)
Dreams, aspirations, fears
13) In the story "Lullaby" by Leslie Silko, what
cultural practice is depicted?
a)
Native American storytelling
b)
Hindu wedding ceremony
c)
Singing a lullaby
d)
Christian baptism
14) In Rabi Thapa's story "Initiation," what cultural
practice is highlighted?
a)
Native American dance
b)
Nepali bratabandha
c)
African tribal ceremony
d)
Chinese New Year celebration
15) How is culture related to identity, according to the text?
a)
Culture has no impact on identity
b)
Culture is the sole determinant of identity
c)
Culture shapes linguistic and cultural behavior, influencing identity
d)
Identity is completely independent of culture
16) How does the text define cultural diversity?
a)
The existence of various cultures within a society
b)
The dominance of a single culture within a society
c)
The absence of culture in a society
d)
The existence of diverse languages within a society
17) What is cultural identity in terms of ethnicity and
nationality?
a)
It has no relation to ethnicity or nationality
b)
It is expressed through clothing and ornaments
c)
It is solely determined by economic factors
d)
It is unrelated to one's cultural background
18) How does culture influence the meaning and significance of
different elements?
a)
It has no impact on their meaning or significance
b)
It assigns different meanings and values to them
c)
It removes all meaning and significance from them
d)
It universalizes their meaning and significance
19) What is a multicultural society, as described in the text?
a)
A society with a single dominant culture
b)
A society with diverse beliefs and practices
c)
A society with no cultural diversity
d)
A society with no distinct cultural groups
20) According to Ziauddin Sardar and Borin Loon, how does
culture shape identity?
a)
It has no influence on identity
b)
It shapes identity as much as economics
c)
It is the sole determinant of identity
d)
It is unrelated to one's cultural background
B. Short Questions
1) From the cultural perspective, what is literature?
From
a cultural perspective, literature is a reflection, manifestation, and product
of a particular society's values, beliefs, customs, and traditions. It is an
integral part of a culture's identity and serves as a textual representation of
the community's way of life. Literature encompasses a wide range of forms,
including poems, stories, novels, plays, and essays, each of which carries within
it the imprint of the cultural context in which it was created.
Literature
reflects the tangible and intangible aspects of culture, such as material
artifacts, social practices, language, and belief systems. It provides a window
into the socio-historical environment of a community, allowing readers to
understand the values and norms that shape their collective identity. Through
narratives, characters, and settings, literature encapsulates the cultural
forms and practices that define a society. For example, a story set in a
specific cultural context may feature characters engaging in practices like
traditional ceremonies, wearing specific attire, or speaking a particular
dialect.
Moreover,
literature is a site of diverse meanings and values, representing the rich
tapestry of perspectives within a multicultural society. It captures the
plurality and diversity of beliefs, practices, and customs that coexist within
a single community. By engaging with literature, readers gain insights into the
varied identities, languages, and cultural expressions that make up a society.
Literature
is not an isolated entity; it is deeply intertwined with the culture from which
it emerges. It serves as a repository of cultural knowledge, a mirror
reflecting societal values, and a medium through which cultural narratives are
shared and preserved for generations to come.
2) What is culture? How does it shape or influence literary works?
Culture
encompasses the shared beliefs, values, customs, practices, and behaviors of a particular
group of people within a society. It is the accumulated knowledge, traditions,
and ways of life that are passed down from generation to generation. Culture is
not static; it evolves over time in response to various influences, including
historical events, technological advancements, and interactions with other
cultures. It serves as a framework that shapes how individuals perceive and
interact with the world around them.
In
literature, culture plays a profound role in shaping the content, themes,
characters, and settings of literary works. It provides the backdrop against
which narratives unfold, influencing the motivations, conflicts, and
resolutions of the story. Cultural values and norms influence character
behaviors, relationships, and decision-making processes. Additionally, language
itself is a product of culture, reflecting unique expressions, idioms, and
linguistic nuances specific to a particular community.
Moreover,
literature often serves as a means to preserve, explore, and critique cultural
identities and practices. Authors draw upon their cultural backgrounds to
infuse authenticity into their works, offering readers insights into diverse
worldviews and experiences. Through literature, cultural narratives are shared,
allowing for a deeper understanding of the complexities, traditions, and
perspectives that define a society.
Culture
is an integral component of literature, shaping the content and context of
literary works. It provides a lens through which readers can explore the rich
tapestry of human experiences, beliefs, and practices across different
societies and time periods.
3) What can be the relationship between culture and literature?
The
relationship between culture and literature is intricate and symbiotic. Literature
is a reflection, expression, and product of culture, and culture, in turn,
provides the fertile ground from which literature emerges.
Literature
is deeply embedded in its cultural context. It mirrors the values, beliefs,
norms, traditions, and historical experiences of a particular society. Authors
draw inspiration from their cultural milieu to craft narratives that resonate
with the experiences of their community. For example, works like Chinua
Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" authentically depict Igbo culture and
the impact of colonialism, offering readers a window into the complexities of
Nigerian society.
Literature
serves as a vessel for cultural preservation and transmission. It safeguards
languages, oral traditions, and historical accounts, ensuring that they are
passed down to subsequent generations. Epics like the "Iliad" and
"Mahabharata" hold immense cultural significance, embodying the
collective memory and values of their respective societies.
Literature
can be a catalyst for cultural evolution and change. It has the power to
challenge norms, provoke critical thinking, and inspire social movements.
Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" played a pivotal role in
the abolitionist movement in the United States, contributing to a shift in
societal attitudes towards slavery.
Culture
and literature share a dynamic relationship where one informs and enriches the
other. Literature acts as a cultural artifact, preserving, interpreting, and
critiquing the values and experiences of a society. Conversely, culture
provides the raw materials and inspiration for literary creation, shaping the
stories, characters, and themes that emerge in literary works. Together, they
form an inseparable tapestry, reflecting the intricate interplay of human experiences
and expressions across time and place.
4) What are the different assumptions of the cultural
perspective in literature? Elaborate each with an example.
The
cultural perspective in literature is guided by several key assumptions that
illuminate the intricate relationship between literary works and the societies
they emerge from. This assumption posits that literature mirrors the values,
beliefs, practices, and historical experiences of a particular society. For
example, F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" reflects the
cultural extravagance and disillusionment of the Roaring Twenties in America.
The characters' opulent lifestyles and the pursuit of the American Dream are
emblematic of the societal values of the time. This perspective acknowledges
that cultures are multifaceted and diverse, composed of various subcultures,
ethnicities, and social groups, each with its own set of beliefs and practices.
For instance, the cultural practices of a Nepali Brahmin during a religious
ceremony differ significantly from those of a Newar community member. This
diversity enriches the tapestry of a society's cultural expressions.
This
assumption asserts that cultural forms, such as rituals, ceremonies, attire,
and language, directly influence literary works. Rabi Thapa's story
"Initiation" vividly portrays the cultural practice of a Hindu
bratabandha ceremony, incorporating elements like traditional attire (dhoti)
and customs (bhikchya de). It recognizes that culture is integral to one's
identity, influencing how individuals perceive themselves and others. Cultural
practices, language, and customs serve as markers of identity. For example, a
person's choice of clothing or the language they use can signal their cultural
affiliation.
This
viewpoint suggests that literature can be employed to regulate or influence
societal behavior. George Orwell's "1984" serves as a cautionary tale
about totalitarianism, using literature as a means to critique and provoke
reflection on oppressive regimes. This perspective emphasizes that no culture
is monolithic. Each society is a tapestry of diverse beliefs, practices, and
values stemming from various ethnic, linguistic, and social groups. This
diversity enriches the cultural landscape and contributes to the mosaic of human
experiences.
These
assumptions collectively demonstrate that culture and literature are
inseparable, with one shaping and informing the other. Through literature,
cultural values, practices, and complexities are both preserved and critiqued,
offering invaluable insights into the diverse human experiences across time and
place.
5) How does literature reflect different cultural forms and
practices? Give examples from a poem, story, play or essay you have read.
Literature
serves as a powerful mirror reflecting various cultural forms and practices,
offering readers a window into the customs, beliefs, and values of a particular
society. Poems, in particular, encapsulate cultural nuances through their vivid
imagery and language.
Consider
Langston Hughes' poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." Hughes uses the
metaphor of rivers to symbolize the deep roots and endurance of African
American culture. By referencing iconic rivers like the Euphrates and the
Mississippi, Hughes connects the African American experience to ancient
civilizations, emphasizing a sense of historical continuity. This reflects the
cultural pride and resilience within the African American community.
Furthermore,
the poem's rich imagery evokes diverse cultural landscapes. For instance, the
"muddy bosom" of the Mississippi River conjures images of fertile
soil and agricultural practices central to the Southern United States, a region
integral to African American history.
Hughes'
poem thus encapsulates cultural forms such as the reverence for nature, the
celebration of heritage, and the acknowledgment of a shared historical legacy.
Through his poetic expression, Hughes offers readers a profound insight into
the cultural depth and complexity of the African American experience. This
exemplifies how literature, and in this case, poetry, can effectively mirror
diverse cultural forms and practices.
6) Each culture is plural and diverse. Elaborate this statement.
Each
culture is a multifaceted tapestry woven from the threads of various beliefs,
traditions, languages, and practices. It's a mosaic of different perspectives,
customs, and ways of life that coexist within a particular community or
society. This diversity arises from numerous factors, including historical
influences, geographical settings, and interactions with neighboring cultures.
For
instance, consider Nepal, a nation known for its rich cultural tapestry. Within
its borders, there are over 125 ethnic groups, each with its own unique
language, customs, and traditions. The Newars, Gurungs, Tamangs, Tharus, and
other communities contribute to Nepal's cultural mosaic, each bringing their
distinct practices and worldviews.
This
cultural diversity is not limited to Nepal; it's a global phenomenon. The
United States, often celebrated as a melting pot, is home to a myriad of
cultures, including African, Native American, Asian, and European, each
contributing to the nation's diverse identity.
Cultural
pluralism and diversity are the norm rather than the exception. They enrich
societies by fostering a broader understanding of humanity, promoting
tolerance, and celebrating the richness of human expression. Each culture's
unique contribution is like a brushstroke on the canvas of human civilization,
collectively creating a vibrant and dynamic masterpiece.
Best of Luck
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