Themes and Concepts in Literature

The speaker reflects on their literary journey, starting with a passion for poetry and evolving into a focus on fiction. They delve into their interest in deconstruction, highlighting influential figures like Derrida and Paul De Man. The discussion transitions to textual materialism and book history, examining the materiality of books and its connection to deconstruction. The speaker also shares their admiration for Don DeLillo, exploring themes of objects and symbolic value in his works.

Which poets did the speaker initially prefer over fiction?

• T.S. Eliot and Sylvia Plath

• William Wordsworth and John Keats

• Wallace Stevens and Ezra Pound

• Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson

What literary theory did the speaker become interested in during graduate school?

• Post-colonialism

• Feminism

• Deconstruction

• Structuralism

Who are the key figures mentioned in the context of deconstruction?

• Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault

• Jacques Derrida and Paul De Man

• Jean Baudrillard and Gilles Deleuze

• Judith Butler and Homi Bhabha

What unexpected topic does the speaker's essay on textual materialism address?

• Cultural studies

• Environmentalism

• Book history

• Digital media

What aspect of books was Derrida particularly interested in?

• The historical context

• The author's biography

• The materiality, such as paper and margins

• The narrative structure

What does the speaker suggest about the future of paper?

• It will become more popular

• It will have a long history

• It is being replaced by digital media

• It will remain unchanged

Which author does the speaker express continued admiration for?

• Ernest Hemingway

• Don DeLillo

• George Orwell

• F. Scott Fitzgerald

What theme is explored in Don DeLillo's work according to the speaker?

• Historical events

• Political ideologies

• The nature of objects and waste

• Romantic relationships

In 'Falling Man', what does the speaker highlight about the depiction of objects?

• Their historical significance

• Their symbolic and non-symbolic value

• Their economic value

• Their aesthetic beauty

What does the speaker suggest about the depiction of dust in 'Falling Man'?

• It shows a world without humans

• It represents purity

• It symbolizes chaos

• It indicates wealth