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Product Description
Michael Ryan's Literary Theory: A Practical Introduction, Second Edition introduces students to the full range of contemporary approaches to the study of literature and culture, from Formalism, Structuralism, and Historicism to Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies, and Global English. * Introduces readings from a variety of theoretical perspectives, on classic literary texts. * Demonstrates how the varying perspectives on texts can lead to different interpretations of the same work. * Contains an accessible account of different theoretical approaches * An ideal resource for use in introductory courses on literary theory and criticism. * Designed to function both as a stand-alone text and a companion to Rivkin and Ryan's Literary Theory: An Anthology, Second Edition.
From the Publisher
Blackwell Publishers
LITERARY THEORY is the first comprehensive introduction to the practice of literary theory. It demonstrates how the full panolpy of theoretical approaches, from Formalism and Structuralism to Post-Modernism and Gender and Gay/Lesbian Studies, can all be used to read the same texts -- 'King Lear', Henry James' novella 'The Aspern Papers', and a selection of Elizabeth Bishop's poems. Each chapter consists of readings of all three texts through the optic of a single theory or method. The texts are read from every critical perspective. As a result, this unique book clearly illustrates the significant practical differences between contending literary theories and approaches, from Formalism, Structuralism, Post-Structuralism, Deconstruction, Psychoanalysis, Marxism, Feminism, and Historicism to Gender and Gay/Lesbian Studies, Ethnic Criticism, Post-Colonial Studies, and Post-Modernism. The book also contains chapters on Cultural Studies and Film Studies, with readings of 'Mildred Pierce' and 'Pulp Fiction'. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
LITERARY THEORY is the first comprehensive introduction to the practice of literary theory. It demonstrates how the full panolpy of theoretical approaches, from Formalism and Structuralism to Post-Modernism and Gender and Gay/Lesbian Studies, can all be used to read the same texts -- 'King Lear', Henry James' novella 'The Aspern Papers', and a selection of Elizabeth Bishop's poems. Each chapter consists of readings of all three texts through the optic of a single theory or method. The texts are read from every critical perspective. As a result, this unique book clearly illustrates the significant practical differences between contending literary theories and approaches, from Formalism, Structuralism, Post-Structuralism, Deconstruction, Psychoanalysis, Marxism, Feminism, and Historicism to Gender and Gay/Lesbian Studies, Ethnic Criticism, Post-Colonial Studies, and Post-Modernism. The book also contains chapters on Cultural Studies and Film Studies, with readings of 'Mildred Pierce' and 'Pulp Fiction'. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book as a newcomer to literary theory, hoping for a clear introduction to contemporary approaches to literary criticism. On that front, I was not disappointed since the writing is clear enough for a beginner, and the idea of using classic and contemporary texts to illustrate the various approaches is a good one. However, Ryan spoils what could have been an excellent, serious introduction by persistently drawing from a strong leftist (and cliched) socio-political viewpoint whenever he creates his own illustrations. Some examples: stating that a liberal will consider George W. Bush "an idiot and a fool" in order to illustrate rhetoric; stating that white readers of a racist novel can "more easily accept the offer of complicity in racism" because they are white; writing that a universal truth about hard work being rewarded is "belied by the educational system in the United States"; a discussion on universal truth is illutrated by a pyramid of the society "before you" which is like a "slave society": "investors, large, property-owner, corporate executives...reap the benefits of other's labors"; etc. etc. Subtle enough perhaps, but constantly inserting this tosh where other examples would have served as well or better introduces an unnecessary and distracting element to the discussion at hand. My objection is not the fact that the slant is leftist, but that political slant does not belong in an instructional book of this sort. When I buy a book about literary theory, I am unwilling to be sujected to the author's political views, whatever they may be. Sadly, the author's inability to keep his own social and political bias out of his text not only makes for tedious reading, but is also a serious failing in a book aimed at first-time students, who may not always pick up on the subtext which is being forced upon them.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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2 reviews
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Fascinating and readable introduction to 'theory'
11 Oct 2000
Format:Paperback
Increasingly, movement towards interdisciplinary study and the cross-over of knowledge across disciplines is allowing for a rise in viewing 'theory' or 'theories' as a whole. A look at the various theories that Ryan deals with in his introduction illustrates this point: Marxism, Feminism, Postmodernism, Deconstruction - these are not merely 'literary' theories, but offer insights into (and critiques of) broader areas: language, society, history, knowledge and reality, the human condition and meaning. This means that the student of literary criticism gains knowledge that not only relates to how to read books and interpret texts, but on general theories that pertain to human action and social interaction.
Keeping this in mind, Ryan's book can be an introduction into different ways of looking at the world, one that might open up new avenues for thinkers in many different areas, even if literary criticism is not your primary interest. Actually, this work was highly recommended to me by an esteemed historian friend, and my own background is in history and theology, not literature.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Very practical indeed
16 Oct 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The publishers are very wise to title this as a "Practical Introduction." I would recommend this for anyone who is facing the task of writing critical essays on the undergraduate or graduate level. Ryan does an amazing job of using literary theory and applying it to the same texts, so that the reader can see how various styles of analysis actual work. The use of examples is extremely helpful. I have come back to this often to remind myself as a graduate student in literature of how it should be done.
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