List 3 to 5 items that you own that you value highly.

Order them from most to least important.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Indicate on the list above the items that you value because other
people might notice the item, or even be impressed that you have
it, and/or you felt like you would “fit in” better if you had it, and/or
someone you like/admire has it so you wanted it, too.
Be honest with yourself!
Marxist Lens Made Easy …
Or at least Itsy 
Marxist Lens
Popular/Familiar Culture
• Monster, Inc.
• Office Space
• The Matrix trilogy
• The Lion king
• Star Trek
• Star Wars
• Titanic
Marxist Theory
Karl Marx
• Karl Heinrich Marx was born on May 5, 1818 in Trier, Rhine province,
Prussia (Germany).
• became a member of the Young Hegelian movement ; this movement
criticized the existing cultural and political systems during that time

Friedrich Engels
• German socialist and philosopher
• was born on November 28, 1820, in Barmen, Rhine province of Prussia
• was known as the closest collaborator and friend of Karl Marx.
Marxist Theory
Marx, together with fellow German philosopher,
Friedrich Engels, wrote The Communist Manifesto in
1848. Through this pamphlet, Marx stated that
socialism is a natural result of the struggle intrinsic in
the capitalist system. In 1867, he also wrote Capital
( Das Kapital ), in which he expounded his theory of
the capitalist system and its tendencies toward self-
destruction.
Marxist Theory
In the 19th century, the Marxist theory was born. This
theory by the German philosopher Karl Marx , along with
another German philosopher named Friedrich Engels
(1820–1895), posits that the problems in history are
caused by the struggle between two forces : the lower
class attempting to obtain power and the upper class
retaining their wealth.
Marxist Theory
• The Bourgeoisie versus the Proletariat

• From the Marxist perspective, production of goods

separates the different social classes: the bourgeoisie ,
who own productive property; and the proletariat , who
work.
• Naturally, the Marxist theory presumes that those who
own productive property are the ruling class that
controls and dictates society’s values, culture, and beliefs.
Marxist Theory
Guide Questions in Evaluating a Piece of
Literature through the Marxist Lens
1. What social issues appear in the literary work?
2. To what extent is the main character’s life determined by social issues? How do those issues
affect his or her motives and determine the direction of the story?
3. How do social forces shape the power relationships between groups or classes of people in
the story? Who has the power, and who does not? Why?
4. Is the protagonist’s struggle symbolic of a larger class struggle?
5. How does the lower class try to move up the system?
6. How does the upper class try to keep their status?
7. Does the work challenge or affirm the social order it depicts?
8. What social conflicts are ignored or blamed elsewhere?
9.Does the work present or suggest some form of solution to the issues it depicts?
10.What are the author’s opinions about class relations?
11.How does the author’s background affect the story’s depiction of society?
Watch part of this quick video summary to have an understanding
of the plot before you begin reading
The Necklace: A Summary
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxnicBE-A4E
• Who are the characters?
• What is the setting?
• What’s the conflict? What other events (rising action) occur?
 What literary elements can you identify for “The
Necklace”?
Characters/Characterization
Conflict
Setting
Plot
Point of View
Foreshadowing, Flashback, Irony
Symbolism
Tone
Style
Characters/Characterization
• Mathilde Loisel - protagonist (physical beauty, discontented)
• Monsieur Loisel - husband, does best to please Mathilde,
loves her
• Madame Forestier - Mathilde's wealthy friend
Conflict =
• Person vs. Self, Person vs. Society (What are others for other
stories?)
Setting =
• Paris, 1800s (10 year time span)
Plot
• Exposition – Mathilde’s desires and living conditions are
described
• Complication/Rising Action – invitation to ball, borrowing
necklace, going to ball, (losing necklace, buying and paying
off the fake)
• Climax – discovery of lose of necklace – OR running into M
Forestier
• Falling Action – paying it off - OR Conversation with M.
Forestier
• Resolution –Twist Ending=Realization that it is a fake
Point of View =
• 3rd person omniscient (What are others for other stories?)
Irony =
• necklace was not worth all they paid to replace it, a fake
Symbolism =
• necklace = greed, wealth, beauty, entitlement
Tone =
• serious, formal
Style =
• short paragraphs but that move the reader through a lot of events over
a lot of time but in a short story; economical descriptions and
repetition of phrases to reveal characters quickly but aptly
COMING SOON…
Feminist