Sociological

Literary
Criticism

Luke Matthew de Leon

What is Sociological Literary

Criticism?
Introduced by Kenneth Burke
Directed to understanding (or placing) literature
in its larger social context
Systemizes the literary strategies that are
employed in the story
Analyzes how the social or society functions in
literature
Analyzes how literature works in society

What is Sociological Literary

Criticism?
Influenced by New Criticism however adds a
sociological element found with critical theory
Considers art as a manifestation of society
Complicates the basic trend of New Criticism
Examines literature in the cultural, economic,
and political context in which it is written or
received
Mode of criticism that exposes and delineates
sources of social evil or injustice

Kenneth burke

Kenneth Duva Burke

Born: May 5, 1897
Died: November 19,
1993
Literary and critical
theorist

Kenneth burke

Suggested the
standardization of
the sociological
criticism for authors

Popular types of
Sociological Literary
Criticism
Marxist, Feminism, PostColonialism and New
Historicism

Why are they

considered
Sociological?

Popular Types of
Sociological Criticism
Marxist Criticism

Feminism

sees literary texts as

being products of an
ideology and social
class

critical theory to
interpret or
reinterpret womens
experience

Marxist critic is
concerned with the
cultural, economic or
political values that
a text promotes

feminist critic shall

challenge the male
ideas about women
and may even attack
the traditional male
values

Popular Types of
Sociological Criticism
Post-Colonialism
attempt to understand
the problems posed by
the European colonialism
and its consequences
attends to understand
literary texts from the
colonial and postcolonial
subjects point of view
post-colonial societies to
write their own version of
history thatthe
colonialistshave written

New Historicism

social, cultural and

intellectual context is
important in order to
understand the work
NewHistoricists put
a special emphasis
on the Historical
background of the
text
Authors biography is
also relevant

Animal Farm

George Orwell

Animal Farm

Allegorical Novel
Published August 17,
1945
Reflects the Russian
Revolution of 1917
then into the
Stalinist Era of the
Soviet Union
Satirical tale against
Stalin

Plot Summary
Old Major, the old boar on the Manor Farm, summons the
animals on the farm together for a meeting, during which he
refers to humans as "enemies" and teaches the animals a
revolutionary song called Beasts of England. When Major
dies, two young pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, assume
command and consider it a duty to prepare for the Rebellion.
The animals revolt and drive the drunken and irresponsible
farmer Mr. Jones from the farm, renaming it "Animal Farm".
They adopt the Seven Commandments of Animalism, the
most important of which is, "All animals are equal."
Snowball teaches the animals to read and write, while
Napoleon educates young puppies on the principles of
Animalism. Food is plentiful, and the farm runs smoothly. The
pigs elevate themselves to positions of leadership and set
aside special food items, ostensibly for their personal health.

Plot Summary
Some time later, several men attack Animal Farm. Jones and his
men are making an attempt to recapture the farm, aided by
several other farmers who are terrified of similar animal revolts.
Snowball, who has been studying the battles of Julius Caesar in
anticipation of such a fight, orders the animals to retreat, then
attacks the men and beats them back. Snowball's popularity
soars and this event is proclaimed "The Battle of the Cowshed"
and celebrated annually with the firing of a gun along with the
anniversary of the Revolution.
Napoleon and Snowball struggle for pre-eminence. When
Snowball announces his plans to build a windmill, Napoleon has
his dogs chase Snowball away and declares himself leader of
Animal Farm.

Plot Summary
Napoleon enacts changes to the governance structure of the farm,
replacing meetings with a committee of pigs who will run the farm.
Through a young pig named Squealer, Napoleon claims credit for
the windmill idea. The animals work harder with the promise of
easier lives with the windmill. When the animals find the windmill
collapsed after a violent storm, Napoleon and Squealer convince
the animals that Snowball is trying to sabotage their project. Once
Snowball becomes a scapegoat, Napoleon begins to purge the farm
with his dogs, killing animals he accuses of consorting with his old
rival. When some animals recall the Battle of the Cowshed,
Napoleon (who was nowhere to be found during the battle)
frequently smears Snowball as a collaborator of Jones, while falsely
representing himself as the hero of the battle. Beasts of England is
replaced with an anthem glorifying Napoleon, who appears to be
adopting the lifestyle of a man. The animals remain convinced that
they are better off than they were under Mr. Jones.

Plot Summary
Mr Frederick, one of the neighbouring farmers, attacks the
farm, using blasting powder to blow up the restored windmill.
Though the animals win the battle, they do so at great cost,
as many, including Boxer the workhorse, are wounded.
Despite his injuries, Boxer continues working harder and
harder, until he collapses while working on the windmill.
Napoleon sends for a van to take Boxer to the veterinary
surgeon, explaining that better care can be given there.
Benjamin, the cynical donkey who "could read as well as any
pig", notices that the van belongs to a knacker, and attempts
a futile rescue. Squealer quickly assures the animals that the
van had been purchased from the knacker by an animal
hospital and the previous owner's signboard had not been
repainted. In a subsequent report, Squealer reports sadly to
the animals that Boxer died peacefully at the animal
hospital; the pigs hold a festival one day after Boxer's death
to further praise the glories of Animal Farm and have the

Plot Summary
However, the truth was that Napoleon had engineered the
sale of Boxer to the knacker, allowing him and his inner circle
to acquire money to buy whisky for themselves. (In 1940s
England, one way for farms to make money was to sell large
animals to a knacker, who would kill the animal and boil its
remains into animal glue.)
Years pass, and the windmill is rebuilt along with
construction of another windmill, which makes the farm a
good amount of income. However, the concepts which
Snowball discussed, of animal stalls with running water and
lighting are forgotten, with Napoleon advocating that the
happiest animals live simple lives.

Plot Summary
In addition to Boxer, many of the animals who participated
in the Revolution are dead, as well as Jones, who died in
another part of England. The pigs start to resemble humans,
as they walk upright, carry whips, and wear clothes. The
Seven Commandments are abridged to a single phrase: "All
animals are equal but some animals are more equal than
others". Napoleon holds a dinner party for the pigs and local
farmers, with whom he celebrates a new alliance. He
abolishes the practice of the revolutionary traditions and
restores the name "The Manor Farm". As the animals look
from pigs to humans, they realise they can no longer
distinguish between the two.

References

Adams, H. (1971). Critical theory since Plato (1st

ed.). New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Harrington, A. (2004). Art and social theory (1st ed.).
Cambridge: Polity Press.
LitCrit. Hhh.gavilan.edu. Retrieved 7 January 2017,
from http://hhh.gavilan.edu/kwarren/LitCrit.html
Morreti, F. (1982). Dialectic of Fear. New Left Review,
1(136).
Orwell, G. (1996). Animal farm (1st ed.). New York,
NY: Signet Classics.

Thank you!