Literary theory is an unavoidable part of studying literature and criticism. In his most recent book,evolution and literary theory, he seeks to build a bridge between science and the humanities. Literary theory explores and attempts to evaluate the bases of criticism, but literary criticism itself is a practical activity carried out in a community of interests. Literary criticism produced by indian scholars from the earliest times to the present age is represented in this book. But theory especially when it takes the form of isms can often be intimidating or else, frankly, boring. Literary theory in a strict sense is the systematic study of the nature of literature and of the. This classic work covers all of the major movements in literary studies in this century. By the end of this course, students will find themselves equipped with a variety of critical approaches to literary and cultural texts.
I classical age plato plato was the first scholastic philosopher who had given a systematic shape to criticism. Readings of william shakespeare, king lear, henry james, the aspern papers, elizabeth bishop, the complete poems 19271979, toni morrison, the bluest eye. Literary theory, literary criticism, and literary history are interrelated. Contemporary literary theory spring 2016 ma programme. Julie rivkin is professor of english at connecticut college, usa, where she teaches on american literature, contemporary women writers, and literary theory. Literary theory and schools of criticism introduction. One reason is that it is based on transcripts of frys lectures at yale where he is speaking extemporaneously, so the book takes you down a lot of winding paths of assumed knowledge. Norton paperback students should obtain the full set. Pdf a critical overview of literary criticism in english.
Rehabilitating literary theory buzzwords and pompous jargon in discussing literature as well as the boasting of credulous academicians about their knowledge of critical jargon and of the names of famous theorists, together with the excessive propensity towards theorizing at the expense of practice. The norton anthology of theory and criticism new york and london. In the sciences, theories are systems for understanding how an aspect of the world works. A very short introduction jonathan culler has always been about the best person around at explaining literary theory without oversimplifying it or treating it with polemical bias. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext.
Chapter ii defining psychoanalysis and its criticism psychoanalytic criticism is the interpretative perspective of literature by applying some techniques of psychoanalysis. An anthology comprises a selection of classic, mustread essays alongside contemporary and global extracts, providing an engaging and timely overview of literary theory. Instead we present brief essays on a range of key critical. The terms literary theory and critical theory refer to essentially the same fields of study. We may, for example, respond to a loud noise by saying that sounded like a gunshot. If theory has sometimes neglected literature, the literary has, culler argues, retained a crucial if misunderstood role. An introduction provides an accessible overview of major figures and movements in literary theory and criticism from antiquity to the twentyfirst century. Phrase searching you can use double quotes to search for a series of words in a particular order. Because the blackwell guide to literary theory is aimed at readers unacquainted with theory undergraduates especially, but also begin ning graduate. Acknowledging this, howard felperin promises at the outset of his book that given the current rage for theory within our institutions of academic literary study. Pdf literary theory an introduction by terry eagleton. Each work is introduced in its social, cultural and literary context. In this book, the term literary theory is used to cover an array of principles and assumptions that govern theoretical re.
The proponents of each theory believe their theory is the theory, but most of us interpret texts according to the rules of several different theories at a time. Books and texts for the course primary texts each student should own a copy of the following, which can be bought from blackwells booksellers, 53 south bridge, edinburgh. Literary theory is a description of the underlying principles, one might say the tools, by which we attempt to understand literature. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a. Introduction to hayden white, university of california at. In general, to interpret something is to make it personally meaningful. This study guide consists of approximately 46 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of literary theory. Literary theory is often regarded as a twentieth century invention, with no precedents prior to modernity. An introduction to literary criticism, third edition ann b. The objective of the literary and cultural theory series is to publish works, collections of articles, and conference proceedings which aim at transgressing boundaries of single disciplines and at creating common space within which themes and methodologies of those single disciplines merge and contribute to the production of a novel approach to culture, literature, and philosophy. Until recently, the history of literary theory from plato to the present has been a traditional or canonical course in english departments in the united states. A readers guide to contemporary literary theory raman selden peter widdowson peter brooker fifth edition a readers guide to contemporary literary theoryis a classic introduction to the everevolving field of modern literary theory, now expanded and. It is an invaluable resource for students who wish to familiarize themselves with the most recent developments in literary theory and with the traditions from which these new theories are derived.
There is also a short discussion of the nature and significance. Literary theory and criticism stony brook university. The earliest literary criticism comes from ancient greek writers such as plato, aristotle and aristophanes. He has published books on matthew arnold and wallace stevens. An introduction is a critical overview of the history of literary theory. My attempt to bridge the gap between literature and history, between historical and aesthetic approaches, begins at. The systemic and empirical approach to literature and. An introduction this website features poetry, drama and prose from the sixteenth century to the present day. A sampling of critical lenses literary theories were developed as a means to understand the various ways people read texts. Literary theory, postgraduate, aesthetics, meaning interpretation. Literary criticism as a tool for interpreting literature what is interpretation. Literary theory empowers us to read texts in a particular way, in order to explore different perspectives, and open up a text to new interpretations. The only actual treatises on poetics after aristotle that might be relevant. A brief introduction to literary theory the virtual theorist.
This book, then, is an introduction to both literary theory and a history of theory. We could borrow the title the canon and its discontents for this class. For example, world war ii with quotes will give more precise results than world war ii without quotes. Our brain takes raw data from the senses and makes it meaningful by relating it to our previous experiences. The practice of theory the history of literary theory is a history of changing notions of reading and interpretation and changing notions of what constitutes literature and the literary.
When you hear the word theory, you might think first of the natural sciences, rather than of literature. These different lenses allow critics to consider works of art based on certain assumptions within that school of theory. Another way in which literary theory differs from theoretical prac tices in scienti. Literature, literary theory and literary criticism. Ability comes with experience, by reading and thinking on a wide range of material, literature and criticism. Printed in the united states of america 123456715141211 theory into practice. Noted for its clear, engaging style and unpretentious treatment, literary theory has become the introduction of choice for anyone interested in learning about the world of contemporary literary thought. This is a valuable anthology for those looking to revisit the traditional views of literary theory from a global perspective.
The representational logics of henry jamess fiction 1996. Literary theory and schools of criticism introduction a very basic way of thinking about literary theory is that these ideas act as different lenses critics use to view and talk about art, literature, and even culture. The other reason its bad has to do with the state of literary theory, i think. An anthology is a definitive collection of classic and contemporary statements in the field of literary theory and criticism. Wildcard searching if you want to search for multiple variations of a word, you can substitute a special symbol called a wildcard for one or more letters. The journal is devoted to research in literary theory. Psychoanalysis is a form of therapy propounded by the austrian psychologist sigmund freud 18561939. All literary interpretation draws on a basis in theory but can serve as a justification for very different kinds of critical activity. An anthology is a dynamic and illuminating synthesis.
This relegates older discourses on literature to the status of source material. Dr corinna mcleod, grand valley state university, usa global literary theory. For each text, two literary theories are suggested. An introduction structuralism and semiotics 2 3 structuralism and semiotics we left american literary theory at the end of the introduction in the grip of new criticism, honing its increasingly sophisticated techniques and fighting a rearguard action against modern science and industrialism. John kenny, centre for the study of human settlement and historical change, national university of ireland, galway a readers guide to contemporary literary theory is a classic introduction to the everevolving field of modern literary theory, now expanded and updated in its fifth edition. With michael ryan, she is the author of literary theory.
It is designed for students at the undergraduate level or for others needing a broad synthesis of the long history of literary theory. Theoretical overviews summarize each literary approach for clarification and application essays by wellknown scholars, on works by authors such as shakespeare, austen, melville, faulkner, and angelou, represent the stated principles. A very short introduction is an exemplary work in this genre. The volume is thoroughly introduced in the general introduction and part introductions and each piece is contextualized within the wider sphere of global theory. Meaning, then, can come from the reader at least as much as from the writer. They both address ways of looking at literature beyond the typical plotthemecharactersetting studies. In this timely and wideranging book, jonathan culler, whose lucid analyses of structuralism, semiotics, and deconstruction have been prized by generations of readers, explores the place of the literary in theory. This clear, succinct primer for literary theory provides students with a useful guide to contemporary theory and methodologies. We have tried to avoid simply giving potted summaries of isms. Books and texts for the course university of edinburgh. It is literary theory that formulates the relationship between author.
By his time the glory of athenian art and literature began to fade and was taken. Paul frys book theory of literature is bad for two reasons. Literary history as a challenge to literary theory hans robert jauss rriterary history may be seen as challenging literary theory to take up once again the unresolved dispute between the marxist and formalist schools. Literary theory, an introduction second edition staff uny. History of literary theory and criticism plato, republic, book x phaedrus aristotle, poetics horace, the art of poetry longinus, on the sublime plotinus, on the intellectual beauty dante alighieri, letter to can grande della. Click on document a history of literary criticism and theory from plato to the present m a r a r habib. Joseph carroll is a professor of english at the university of missourist. A practical introductionwiley blackwell, 3rd edition, 2016.
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