Etymology of Attitude
The word “attitude” in a literary context, originally derived from the French word “attitude,” had its roots in 17th-century Italy, particularly in the field of art. In this context, “attitude” referred to a pose or posture struck by a figure in a painting or sculpture.
With time, it evolved to encompass a broader range of expressions and behaviors, both in the visual arts and in literature. In literary analysis, “attitude” pertains to the author’s tone, perspective, or disposition toward the subject matter, characters, or themes in a work of literature, and it plays a crucial role in conveying the author’s intentions and the overall mood of the text.
Meaning of Attitude
- Authorial Tone: The author’s emotional and intellectual stance in the text.
- Narrative Voice: The way the author presents the story’s events and characters.
- Character Attitudes: The beliefs, emotions, and responses of characters.
- Theme and Message: The influence on the central themes and message of the work.
- Style and Language Choices: How the author’s attitude affects language and style.
- Reader Engagement: How the author’s attitude affects reader involvement.
- Cultural and Historical Context: How cultural and historical factors shape attitude.
- Irony and Satire: Use of attitude for irony or satire.
- Shifts in Attitude: Changes in attitude throughout the text.
- Reader’s Interpretation: How attitude aids in interpretation and analysis.
Definition of Literary Device of Attitude
The literary device of “attitude” refers to the author’s emotional and intellectual stance or disposition expressed through the text’s tone, language choices, and character perspectives. It shapes the reader’s interpretation and engagement with the work, influencing themes, character development, and overall literary impact. Attitude is a critical element in analyzing an author’s intentions and the emotional resonance of a literary piece.
Common Features of an Attitude
- Tone: The emotional quality and mood of the text.
- Diction and Language Choices: Words and language reflecting the author’s attitude.
- Character Perspectives: Beliefs, values, and emotions of characters.
- Narrative Voice: The chosen narrative style influencing attitude perception.
- Impact on Theme and Message: Shaping themes and conveying the author’s message.
Types of Attitudes
- Positive Attitude: Characters or narrators express optimism, favorability, or enthusiasm towards people, events, or themes in the text.
- Negative Attitude: Characters or narrators exhibit pessimism, disapproval, or hostility towards people, events, or themes within the narrative.
- Neutral Attitude: A lack of emotional bias is evident in the text, with a balanced and objective presentation of characters and events.
- Sarcastic Attitude: Authors or characters employ sarcasm to convey an attitude that contradicts the literal meaning of their words, often for satirical or critical effect.
- Cynical Attitude: Characters or narrators display distrust, skepticism, or a pessimistic view of human nature or society.
- Optimistic Attitude: Characters or authors express hope, positivity, and a favorable outlook on life, often in the face of challenges.
- Satirical Attitude: Authors use humor, wit, and irony to criticize or mock individuals, institutions, or societal norms.
- Romantic: Characters or authors idealize love, emotions, and personal relationships, often emphasizing passion and emotional intensity.
- Realistic : An objective portrayal of life and events without idealization or exaggeration, reflecting the complexities of everyday existence.
- Tragic : Characters or authors emphasize the inevitability of suffering, fate, and the darker aspects of the human condition.
Shakespearean Attitudes
| Attitude | Example with Explanation |
| Love and Passion | In “Romeo and Juliet,” Shakespeare portrays the passionate love between Romeo and Juliet, emphasizing the intensity of their emotions: “But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” |
| Tragic Fate | “Macbeth” explores the tragic consequences of ambition and fate as Macbeth’s ambition leads to his downfall: “Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.” |
| Comedic Attitude | In “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Shakespeare uses humor and mistaken identities to create a lighthearted comedic atmosphere: “Lord, what fools these mortals be!” |
| Skepticism and Deceit | In “Hamlet,” the character of Hamlet embodies skepticism and deceit as he grapples with the moral ambiguity of avenging his father’s murder: “Frailty, thy name is woman!” |
| Ambition and Power | In “Julius Caesar,” the play explores the consequences of ambition and political power, with Brutus questioning the motives of Caesar’s supporters: “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” |
| Jealousy and Betrayal | “Othello” delves into the destructive effects of jealousy and betrayal as Iago manipulates Othello: “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” |
| Fate and Free Will | In “King Lear,” Shakespeare explores the tension between fate and free will as Lear’s choices lead to tragic consequences: “As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods. They kill us for their sport.” |
| Hope and Redemption | “The Tempest” conveys a sense of hope and redemption as Prospero forgives his enemies and seeks reconciliation: “The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance.” |
| Duality and Ambiguity | “Macbeth” features themes of duality and moral ambiguity, especially in the character of Lady Macbeth: “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.” |
| Transience of Life | In “Sonnet 18,” Shakespeare reflects on the fleeting nature of beauty and life: “But thy eternal summer shall not fade.” |
Suggested Readings
- Booth, Wayne C. The Rhetoric of Fiction. University of Chicago Press, 1983.
- Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: An Introduction. Blackwell, 2008.
- Fowler, Alastair. Kinds of Literature: An Introduction to the Theory of Genres and Modes. Harvard University Press, 1982.
- Green, Keith. Genres of Modernity: Contemporary Indian Novels in English. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015.
- Jauss, Hans Robert. Toward an Aesthetic of Reception. University of Minnesota Press, 1982.
- Leitch, Vincent B., et al. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. W. W. Norton & Company, 2018.
- Lodge, David. The Art of Fiction. Penguin Books, 1992.
- Wellek, René, and Austin Warren. Theory of Literature. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1956.
- Wimsatt, W. K., and Monroe C. Beardsley. “The Intentional Fallacy.” The Verbal Icon: Studies in the Meaning of Poetry. University Press of Kentucky, 2010.
- Woolf, Virginia. “Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown.” In Collected Essays, edited by Leonard Woolf, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1967.