Final answer:
A professor's criticism of a student's novel might be due to the work challenging cultural expectations or societal norms. Authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Kate Chopin have faced such criticisms. Literary criticism can also reflect personal biases against new or controversial ideas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The criticism of the student's novel by her professor could stem from a variety of academic perspectives. One such reason, as highlighted by the experience of the author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is the expectation of cultural or thematic authenticity.
When Adichie's professor criticized her novel for not being "authentically African," it was because the characters did not conform to his preconceived notions of African life—they were not struggling in poverty, for instance. This criticism reflects a tendency to stereotype or hold biased expectations for literature from different cultures.
Similarly, authors like Kate Chopin faced censure because her book, 'The Awakening', broached topics like female sexuality and personal freedom, which challenged societal norms of the time and made audiences uncomfortable. Similarly, Simone de Beauvoir's work confronted deeply ingrained gender stereotypes, making it controversial despite or perhaps because of its intellectual rigor and candor.
Literary criticism can also reflect broader societal perspectives and biases, with arguments about the quality of literature occasionally masking conservative resistance to new ideas.
While literary scholars often judge a text's merits based on established intellectual standards, ordinary readers may connect with a book on a more emotional or personal level, prompting debates about what constitutes "good" or "bad" literature, as George Orwell discussed.
Therefore, it is possible that the student's novel was criticized for similar reasons—perhaps it challenged prevailing notions, or failed to meet the professor's personal or academic expectations. The student should consider the specific criticisms given and try to understand them within the context of academic debate and personal subjective response to literature.