A reader realizes there is no single theory of literature but a multiplicity of theories when they have acquainted themselves with literary theory. What realization does this illustrate?

• A. All interpretations are equally valid
• B. The canon fixes all interpretations
• C. There is no single theory of literature but multiplicity of theories
• D. The author’s intention determines meaning

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is that literary study relies on many lenses rather than one fixed guide. When you look through different theories, you see that texts can be read in ways shaped by formal analysis, historical context, ideology and power, psychoanalytic readings, reader response, and more. This variety shows there isn’t a single theory that explains all literary meaning; instead, there is a multiplicity of theories, each offering its own valid insights. That’s why the realization fits the statement: there is no single theory of literature but a multiplicity of theories. It’s not saying every possible reading is automatically right, nor that the canon fixes readings, nor that authorial intention alone determines meaning—the emphasis is on the coexistence of multiple theoretical approaches that illuminate different aspects of a text.