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 PublishersLITERARY 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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