The Rise of English " is the influential first chapter of Terry Eagleton's 1983 book, Literary Theory: An Introduction
Step 4: Don't stop at the rise. The beauty of Literary Theory is that after Eagleton tears down the old building, he spends the rest of the book showing you new foundations (Marxism, Feminism, Psychoanalysis, Post-Structuralism). If you stop at "The Rise of English," you risk becoming a cynical nihilist. Eagleton is a Marxist humanist; he wants you to hate the ideology of English so that you can love literature properly. Terry eagleton the rise of english pdf
Eagleton also examines how the teaching of English literature was influenced by the needs of the imperial project, with literature serving as a way to instill moral and cultural values in the administrators and rulers of the Empire. The Rise of English " is the influential
The Rise of English has had a significant impact on literary studies, encouraging scholars to think critically about the development of English as a discipline and its relationship to social, cultural, and historical contexts. Eagleton is a Marxist humanist; he wants you
Replacement for Religion: As religion’s power to maintain social order waned in the 19th century, Eagleton argues that English literature was "installed" as a secular substitute to instill Victorian values and national pride.
The Tool of Hegemony: Eagleton draws heavily on Antonio Gramsci’s concept of hegemony. Hegemony is not rule by force (a police state) but rule by consent. The ruling class shapes the common-sense values of society. By teaching that literature embodies "universal truth," the English curriculum subtly taught obedience, compassion for the rich, and a disdain for revolutionary politics.