This assignment asks you to consider how the literary text (Native Son) figures certain problems or dynamics raised by the theoretical text (C.L.R. James essays), and furthermore, how the novel may afford us insight into problems posed by the theoretical text.
Your essay should answer the following two-part question: “how does the theory help you to understand something about the literary text that would have otherwise been hidden, and how does the literary text help illuminate some questions or ideas from the theory.”
Ground the ideas in marxist theory
Consider how the literary text figures certain problems or dynamics raised by the theoretical text, and furthermore, how the novel may afford us insight into problems posed by the theoretical text.
