David H. Richter, Falling Into Theory: Conflicting Views on Reading Literature: "The Theory of Everything"
"Theory, as Gerald Graff argued, is the sort of talk we talk when we have lost our consensus, when nothing 'goes without saying,' so that we have to define every term and justify every statement in the arguments we offer to defend our ideas" (Richter 3).
Richter’s definition of theory rules
out the potential for an “anything goes” attitude toward literary theory. When
we talk about losing a consensus and questioning what is considered to be true,
we do not mean that a person can say anything he or she wants to say in regards
to the interpretation of a literary work. Rather, we question the accepted
truth with the idea in mind that we will find answers for the questions. It has
been said that there is validity in the answer “I don’t know,” but theory gives
us the tools to go beyond uncertainty and doubt or lack of knowledge.
Theory is enabling in the sense that
we can take the methods of the various schools and apply them to literary
texts. Our questions don’t stop at the question mark; instead of simply
wondering and moving on, we are able to find answers. After finding answers, we
are then able to back up our answers with evidence provided by the use of
literary interpretation methods. Each question we answer must have evidence in support of the answer; it is not possible to
make a claim about what a text is doing without having something to support
your claim.
Understanding that theory is
enabling rather than restricting is very helpful. Theory is a way of getting
our bearings in the midst of a vast world of literature, interpretation, and
the different ways people think based on their values. As a student of theory,
it provides a basis for learning the fundamentals and then incorporating the
ones that work best for you into your continued study.
