Psychoanalytic Literary Criticism, Study notes of Psychoanalysis

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Psychoanalytic Literary

Criticism

Using Freudian Theory

Psychoanalysis

Definition: “ a system of psychological theory and therapy that aims to treat mental disorders by investigating the interaction of conscious and unconscious elements in the mind and bringing repressed fears and conflicts into the conscious mind by techniques such as dream interpretation and free association” (google)

“drives”

“rules imposed by society”

Rational Brain

The stages of Freudian Theory :

● id - "...the location of the drives" or libido

● ego - "...one of the major defenses against the power

of the drives...which work to suppress the id”.

● superego - the area of the unconscious that houses

Judgment (of self and others) and "...which begins to

form during childhood as a result of the Oedipus

complex" (Richter 1015-1016)

Freudian Theory

● Freud asserted that people's behavior is affected by their unconscious: "...the notion that human beings are motivated, even driven, by desires, fears, needs, and conflicts of which they are unaware..." (Tyson 14-15). ● Some people feel pressured to suppress fears, desires etc. into the unconscious area of the brain and this can lead to neurosis.

Man operates in his conscious These mind daily. memories etc. can be brought to the surface through things like hypnosis.

These thoughts are often suppressed but can emerge through dreams, slips of the tongue now named “Freudian slip”

Important Terms to Know

Freudian Slip Id psychoanalyze

Oedipus Complex Ego

Bereavement Superego

Neurosis Conscious

Psychosis Preconscious

Transference Unconscious

Where can I find these? In this slide and the handout provided.

Questions to Consider:

● How do the operations of repression structure or inform the work? ● Are there any oedipal dynamics - or any other family dynamics - at work here? ● Is there evidence of a fear or fascination with death or sexuality - which includes love and romance as well as sexual behavior - as a primary indicator of psychological identity? ● Is there evidence of a struggle between the id, ego, and superego? ● What does the work suggest about the psychological being of its author? ● Are there prominent words in the piece that could have different or hidden meanings that could be interpreted as Freudian slips? Could there be a subconscious reason for the author or character using these "problem words"?