Literary Theory as Socio-Historical Convention and Cultural Transfer in the Classroom: A Review

Résumé

In this artic le we examine the implications of literary theory in the light of social patterns which themselves define the parameters of culture in the classroom. If there are indeed social forces at work in our schools, literature is a means of giving expression to them and, as such, provides a frame of reference for the transfer of culture. With this in mind, the question of how theory establishes a frame of reference for guiding action or explaining social events is of primary concern. In relation to this question, the issue of how literature provides a vehicle for transferring culture assumes importance. Our argument rests on the view that history is nothing more than the sum total of culturally determined events recorded at a particular point in time and disseminated to the world at large through literature. Does this mean that literary theory may be used to predict cultural transference in the classroom? We review the limitations of this question and conclude with a discussion of some empirical implications for research.