The grinch who stole christmas poem analysis

Literary Critique

Categories

Level 1 (50 - 59%)

Level 2 (60 - 69%)

Level 3 (70 - 79%)

Level 4 (80 - 100%)

Knowledge/ Understanding

-identify the most important ideas and supporting details in literary theory RL1.03

-critique shows limited knowledge of chosen literary theory

-critique shows some knowledge of chosen literary theory

-critique shows considerable knowledge of chosen literary theory

-critique shows a high degree of knowledge of chosen literary theory

Thinking

-analysis shows an extended understanding of the poem RL1.05

-critique analyses poem with limited effectiveness

-critique analyses poem with some effectiveness

-critique analyses poem with considerable effectiveness

-critique analyses poem with a high degree of effectiveness

Communication

-demonstrate a strong grasp of related terminology RL3.01

-critique employs language conventions and critical terminology with limited effectiveness

-critique employs language conventions and critical terminology with some effectiveness

-critique employs language conventions and critical terminology with considerable effectiveness

-critique employs language conventions and critical terminology with a high degree of effectiveness

Application

-analyze poem using the appropriate literary theory RL1.04

-critique makes connections between poem and chosen literary theory with limited effectiveness

-critique makes connections between poem and literary chosen theory with some effectiveness

-critique makes connections between poem and chosen literary theory with considerable effectiveness

-critique makes connections between poem and chosen literary theory with a high degree of effectiveness

My response

I chose the Marxist theory if criticism in this analysis of “The Grinch who Stole Christmas”. The Marxist theory proposes that “the concept of class struggle plays a central role in attaining a higher form of human society. This theory explains the difference in classes and I believe this poem depicts the idea of The Grinch being “Lower class.” For example, he lives above Whoville in a cave watching their citizens happily enjoying life. You can’t imagine anyone living in a cave and being wealthy. The whos are spending money on gifts and singing Christmas carols unlike the Grinch who possibly does not have enough money to buy presents. This to me, reminds me of the life of an average person vs a celebrity. Everyday just watching our gadgets and secretly wishing we had the funds of celebrities. The Grinch is unhappy living in the cave and when he the whos celebrate Christmas, he decides to steal it. The Grinch is described as miserable but when he realizes there is more to Christmas than just gifts, his “small heart grew three sizes that day! “ Every Who down in Whoville, tall and the small, Was singing without any presents at all” This shows that no matter what characteristics the Whos had, they were still united for Christmas and The Grinch sees this in the poem lines “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!” Realizing this, it gave The Grinch a sense of inclusion and in the lines “Welcome Christmas. Bring your cheer, Cheer to all Whos, far and near.” The Grinch may finally felt near the whos and the cheer of Christmas.

PEER response to my paragraph 1. I really like how you discussed the concept of class and the grinch being "lower class". When looking at the poem from a marxist school of thought, many different aspects of the poem come to light. I thought you did a good job of analyzing the poem using this school of critisism.

2. I liked how you described the Marxist theory but, i believe that mostly this is most related to "Archetypal Criticism" because i believe that his problems are more psycological than anything else. I happen to believe that The Grich even though he doesn't have money but that's not the reason why he is miserable. He is miserable because he wants to be, having money or not doesn't make you miserable that's soemthing that he himself allows it to be this way. There are several things that bother him for example the loudness, and the feast and, also all the little kids that had were so excited and he coulnd't see them happy or enjoying themselves. He case is soemething that comes from hatred and anger that he has inside if him from a bad experience maybe as a child or older.

3. I agree with your concept of separation of the classes, but even though money does not determine whether you are miserable or not, the grinch hates Christmas because he was never equal to the other citizens who had many nice things. This is what developed his hatred towards the general concept of Christmas.

I also agree that the poet chose a good place to portray the Grinch to live in order to show a lack of weath. This does also remind me of everyday live compairing ourselves to others who may have more, and the constant desire for more material wealth. In the end of the poem, the Grinch is portrayed as less of a materialistic person, because he is used to not having as much.

4. I like how you compared the poem “The Grinch who Stole Christmas”, to the Marxist Theory, and I enjoy reading your analysis. However, I believe that the Psychoanalytic theory best suits this poem due to the fact that the Grinch is known to be a villain throughout the poem. This provides the idea that his Id is taking over is consciousness and is allowing all his suppressed desires to be revealed. This shows the imbalance between his Id and Ego, for he begins to plot an evil plan to take away Christmas for all the Who’s in Whoville. This is shown when he pretends to be Santa Claus,

“I know just what to do!” The Grinch laughed in his throat, I’ll make a quick Santy Claus hat and a coat”

His plot to ruin Christmas for everyone comes into play when he climbs down chimney’s and tries to steal presents of every citizen in Whosville. This provides the reader with the understanding that the Grinch isn’t able to control his desires and has an uncontrollable imbalance in his character.

Also, we can see that eventually the Grinch does become a better person when he realizes that everyone in whosville is still happy even when they don’t receive presents on Christmas. Which provokes his superego to show through his character allowing a balance between his Id and Superego.