Important Questions from Literary Theory.

1. How does Gramsci most broadly define the term “intellectual”? In what sense does his interest in the intellectual point to a recalibration of Marxist notions about class and ideology?

2. What is the distinction between “traditional” and “organic” intellectuals?

3. Why do traditional intellectuals consider themselves relatively or even entirely free from the dominant social group? Why is this perception on their part significant for Gramsci’s social theory?

4. What kind of new intellectual does Gramsci promote (especially in his early socialist magazine, Ordine Nuovo) — what leads to the development of this new kind of intellectual, and what will such people accomplish? (1141)

5. What is the difference between an intellectual who is “specialized” and one who is “directive”? (1141) How is this concept of “specialization” significant with regard to Gramsci’s Marxist framework of analysis?

6. How does Gramsci delineate what he calls the two levels of superstructure? (1142) What is “hegemony,” and how is its operation different from State authority?

7. Ultimately, Gramsci is trying to lend his analysis a kind of suppleness that the older Marxist framework and Leninism lacked. Does this selection on intellectuals and hegemony seem promising in that light? Does Gramsci’s view help explain why capitalism has survived longer than Marx and the early Soviets thought it would?

8.What happens when the goods get together?

9.The concept of Homosexuality in “When the goods get together”.

10. Twenty Years………. – What is the critical appreciation of this essay?

11. What are the philosophy of Gandhi regarding the education of India.

12. What is passive resistance? Analyse the process and significance of Passive Resistance according to Gandhi.

13. What is the main concept of Orientalism? Explain with reference of Edward Said.

14. What is the concept of Centre according to Derrida? What are the main theme of “Structure,sign and Play”.

15. What is knowledge regime? How does power shape truth?