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Marxist Criticism · English Literature

What is the 'Subaltern' in the context of Marxist-influenced Postcolonial studies?

  1. A senior commissioned officer within the hierarchy of a colonial military force
  2. Social groups that are marginalized and excluded from dominant power structures
  3. A narrative sidekick or subordinate character who assists the story's main hero
  4. The hidden or underlying significance carried by a dense or complex metaphor
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Correct answer: Social groups that are marginalized and excluded from dominant power structures

Though later expanded by Spivak, the term comes from Gramsci. It refers to the masses (the poor, the uneducated) who lack a political voice and are often ignored in both history and literature.

Difficulty: Medium Question 17 of 20

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