Module 11

Evolution of Central and

South Asian Literature
10/27/23
 Introduction
-Introduction to Central and South
Asian Literature

-Significance of Cultural, Historical,

and Geographical Influences
 Central Asian
Literature
-Overview of Early Written Works in Central Asia

-Influence of Islam on Central Asian Literary Traditions

-Impact of Russian Colonization on Central Asian Literary

Traditions
 Central Asian Literary
Figures
Chingiz Aytmatov: Contributions and Significance
Abdullah Qadiriy: Pioneering Works in Uzbek Literature
Mukhtar Auez-ull: Modernization of Kazakh Literary
Landscape
 South Asian
Literature
-Emphasis on Ancient Epics and Religious
Texts

-Impact of Indian Literature in Southeast

Asia
 Sanskrit and Rig Veda
-Significance of Sanskrit in South Asian
Literary Traditions

-Role of Rig Veda in Shaping Early South

Asian Literature
 Rabindranath Tagore
-Biographical Overview of Tagore’s Life
and Works

-International Impact and the Nobel Prize

Win
Cultural Exchange
and Literary
Influences
-Interconnected Nature of Central and South Asian
Literature

-Impact of Trade Routes and Cultural Exchanges on

Literary Narratives
New Historicism
and Cultural
Studies
 Historical Criticism
Historical criticism is understanding literature
by looking at the time it was written. It helps
us see how the author's surroundings
influenced their writing.

Emphasis on Investigating Context: It's

important to study the history and culture
around a literary work to grasp how society,
politics, and culture affected the text's
creation and how it was received.
 Traditional Critique vs.
Formalist Approach
Traditional critique involves examining literature by considering historical
and societal contexts, while the formalist approach focuses solely on the
internal elements of the work, disregarding external influences.

Importance of Investigating the Time of Writing: Investigating the time of

writing helps in comprehending the external factors that shaped the author's
perspectives, allowing for a deeper understanding of the cultural and
historical significance embedded within the text.
 Emergence of New
Historicism
Historical criticism has evolved from the traditional approach of
analyzing literature based on historical contexts to encompass a
more dynamic understanding of how societal, cultural, and
political factors influence literary creation and interpretation.

New Historicism and Cultural Studies emerged as contemporary

literary theories that emphasize the dynamic relationship
between texts and their historical contexts. These theories
recognize the mutual influence between authors and their
sociopolitical environments, highlighting the relative nature of
literary interpretation.
 Core Tenets of New
Historicism
New Historicism highlights how the author's surroundings
shape their work, impacting its themes and ideas.

Understanding Text-Context Relationship: It emphasizes

the interplay between the text and the historical setting,
showcasing how societal norms and cultural beliefs
influence the literary creation and vice versa.
 Relatively of Historical
Truth
Acknowledgment of Bias and Subjectivity: New Historicism
recognizes that both the author and the critic may have
personal opinions that affect how they see a work.

Impact of Author's Perspective on the Writing: It emphasizes

that an author's own experiences and thoughts about the
world can shape how they write a story and what messages
they convey.
Influence of New Historicism
on Literary Interpretation
Changing Perspectives in Literary Analysis: New Historicism
acknowledges how viewpoints in literary analysis evolve over
time, considering the influence of societal changes on
interpretations.

Understanding Contextual Interpretation: It highlights that

interpreting a literary work depends on the historical and cultural
context, emphasizing how interpretations can differ based on
different historical and cultural viewpoints.
 Irony in New
Historicism
Recognition of Biases: New Historicism sees biases
in both the author's work and the critic's view,
showing how interpretations can be subjective.

Impact on Literary Criticism: It challenges the idea

of a single, lasting interpretation, suggesting that
the meaning of a literary work can change over
time due to differing viewpoints.
Thank you
very much!