Identify the statements which are true for Psychoanalytic
Criticism.
A. The premises and procedures were established by Sigmund
Freud.
B. Freud posited that artists are like neurotic patients.
C. Freud posited that ‘Psychoanalysis’ can be used to account
for many developments and practices in the history of
civilization.
D. A repressed wish does not become fantasy.
E. Freud proposed that literature and other arts manifest the
repressed subconscious and unconscious drives of the
artist.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is A, C and E only.

Let's analyze each of the statements step-by-step to understand why they are true or false in the context of psychoanalytic criticism:

Statement A: The premises and procedures were established by Sigmund Freud. (True)
Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist, is the founder of psychoanalysis. His clinical methods, theories of the unconscious mind, and concepts such as the id, ego, and superego laid the foundational premises and procedures for psychoanalytic literary criticism.

Statement B: Freud posited that artists are like neurotic patients. (False)
While Freud drew parallels between the fantasies of creative artists and daydreaming, he distinguished the artist from the neurotic patient. He argued that unlike neurotics who are overwhelmed by their fantasies and unable to find a way back to reality, artists possess the unique ability to sublimate and transform their unconscious desires into creative, socially acceptable works of art.

Statement C: Freud posited that ‘Psychoanalysis’ can be used to account for many developments and practices in the history of civilization. (True)
Freud extended the scope of psychoanalysis beyond individual therapy to cultural, historical, and sociological studies. In seminal works like Totem and Taboo and Civilization and Its Discontents, he argued that collective human behaviors, social institutions, and historical practices are deeply rooted in shared psychological structures and the repression of primal instincts.

Statement D: A repressed wish does not become fantasy. (False)
According to psychoanalytic theory, repressed wishes do not disappear; instead, they seek alternative channels of expression. One of the primary outlets for these repressed drives is fantasy, which includes dreams, daydreams, and creative writing.

Statement E: Freud proposed that literature and other arts manifest the repressed subconscious and unconscious drives of the artist. (True)
Freud viewed art and literature as a form of wish-fulfillment. He suggested that creative works serve as a medium through which the artist's repressed subconscious desires, conflicts, and unconscious drives find a sublimated, disguised expression that can be shared with the public.