Read the following passage and answer Question:
Psychoanalytic theory tells us that the human psyche is divided into three spheres: consciousness, precociousness, and the unconsciousness. Although Freud might not have discovered the unconsciousness, it is fair to say that he was aware of its significance and used it in his work to an unprecedented degree. He offers a classic description of the unconsciousness in his essay, ‘One of the difficulties of Psychoanalysis.’
It was then, and still is, difficult for many people to recognize that there can be contents of their minds of which they are unaware. The three levels of the psyche (Freud’s topographic hypothesis) can be represented by an iceberg. The top of the iceberg, which we all see, is consciousness. The part of the iceberg five or six feets below the waterline, which we can dimly make out, is the preconscious. And the part of the iceberg, below the line, which cannot be seen, is the unconscious. It makes up most of the iceberg and, it is important to recognize, the human psyche.
According to Freud, all of our experiences are stored in the unconscious and have an effect on our minds and behaviour. Psychoanalytic criticism suggests that works of art resonate with this unconscious material in our minds. It is likely, psychoanalytic critics suggest, that works of art send messages, in hidden and rather mysterious ways, from the unconscious of creative artists to the unconscious of people who are the audience for their works.
If the people found the idea of an unconscious difficult, they found Freud’s notion of the Oedipus complex outrageous. And it still is a very controversial matter as scholars in many fields argue about whether it exists or was just a fantastic notion of Freud’s. He believed that we all experience, when we are young children (around the age of 3), oedipal strivings. That is, we all desire to have the undivided attention and love of our parent of the opposite sex. Freud called this phenomenon the Oedipus complex because it resembled in important ways the myth of Oedipus, the Greek hero who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother.
Although this theory is very controversial, it is interesting to notice how useful it is in dealing with works of art. The Oedipus complex has been used by critics to interpret everything from King Kong to the James Bond stories and films.
Q1. Which sphere of human psyche Sigmund Freud was presumed to have not discovered?
(A) Unconscious
(B) Pre-consciousness
(C) Consciousness
(D) Post consciousness
Correct Ans: (A)
Explanation:
Freud did not discover the unconscious mind, but he explored its significance in depth. While earlier thinkers mentioned unconscious thoughts, Freud made it central to psychoanalysis. He divided the psyche into consciousness, preconsciousness, and unconsciousness. Consciousness includes immediate thoughts, while the preconscious holds retrievable memories. The unconscious, however, remains hidden and affects behavior unknowingly. Freud’s iceberg analogy explains this well. The unconscious stores suppressed desires and past experiences, influencing dreams and actions. Though he did not find it first, Freud revolutionized how people understand it.
Q2. In the example explaining the three spheres of human psyche, which part was identified with pre-conscious?
(A) The iceberg
(B) The topic of iceberg
(C) The portion of iceberg submerged below waterline
(D) The part of iceberg we cannot see
Correct Ans: (C)
Explanation:
Freud used an iceberg to explain the human psyche. The visible part represents consciousness, while the submerged section below the waterline represents the preconscious. This part stores thoughts and memories that are not in active awareness but can be recalled easily. For example, remembering an old friend’s name after some thought comes from the preconscious. Unlike the unconscious, which remains hidden, the preconscious allows forgotten experiences to resurface. Freud believed this layer plays a crucial role in shaping thoughts and emotions, linking the conscious and unconscious mind.
Q3. How do the works of art send message to the audience?
(A) Through colours
(B) Through human figures
(C) Through unconscious message inscribed in works of art to the unconscious of audience
(D) Through the writings of the critics
Correct Ans: (C)
Explanation:
According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, art carries unconscious messages from the artist to the audience. Artists create based on deep emotions, past experiences, and suppressed thoughts. These elements shape their work, often without their awareness. Viewers, in turn, interpret art based on their own unconscious mind. Colors, themes, and symbols trigger emotions that may not be consciously understood. This explains why different people react differently to the same artwork. Psychoanalytic critics use this concept to analyze hidden meanings in literature, films, and paintings.
Q4. What did Sigmund Freud believed about Oedipus complex?
(A) Only female child experience Oedipus complex
(B) The strong influence of Greek God Oedipus
(C) Young children of about 3 years of age want undivided attention of parent of opposite sex
(D) The unconsciousness in genes of brain
Correct Ans: (C)
Explanation:
Freud’s Oedipus complex theory suggests that young children develop deep emotional attachments to their opposite-sex parent. He believed that around age three, boys desire their mother’s attention and feel rivalry toward their father. Similarly, girls develop affection for their fathers, known as the Electra complex. Freud named this after the Greek myth of Oedipus, who unknowingly killed his father and married his mother. Though controversial, this theory has influenced psychology, literature, and film studies. Many critics use it to analyze relationships in fictional narratives.
Q5. How did the critics use Oedipus complex in the past?
(A) Works of art
(B) Commentaries on Freud’s works
(C) In interpreting King Kong, James Bond stories and films
(D) Explaining fantasies in films
Correct Ans: (C)
Explanation:
Critics have applied Freud’s Oedipus complex to various films and stories, including King Kong and James Bond movies. In King Kong, the male hero’s struggle against the giant ape represents a fight for dominance, similar to Oedipal rivalry. Similarly, James Bond films often show male heroes competing for female attention while facing male adversaries. Freud himself used this theory to analyze Hamlet, suggesting the prince’s hesitation to kill his uncle stems from repressed Oedipal feelings. This theory remains a popular tool for analyzing deep psychological conflicts in media.
