An Introduction To Literature, Criticism And Theory

Description

By (author) Bennett Andrew; By (author) Royle Nicholas

Short /annotation:

Lively, original and highly readable, An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory is the essential guide to literary studies. A breath of fresh air in a field that can often seem dry and dauntingly theoretical, this book will open the reader’s eyes to the exhilarating possibilities of reading and studying literature.

:

Lively, original and highly readable, An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory is the essential guide to literary studies. Starting at ‘The Beginning’ and concluding with ‘The End’, chapters range from the familiar, such as ‘Character’, ‘Narrative’ and ‘The Author’, to the more unusual, such as ‘Secrets’, ‘Pleasure’ and ‘Ghosts’. Now in its sixth edition, Bennett and Royle’s classic textbook successfully illuminates complex ideas by engaging directly with literary works, so that a reading of Jane Eyre opens up ways of thinking about racial difference, for example, while Chaucer, Monty Python and Hilary Mantel are all invoked in a discussion of literature and laughter.

The sixth edition has been revised and updated throughout. In addition, four new chapters – ‘Literature’, ‘Loss’, ‘Human’ and ‘Migrant’ – engage with exciting recent developments in literary studies. As well as fully up-to-date further reading sections at the end of each chapter, the book contains a comprehensive bibliography and an invaluable glossary of key literary terms.

A breath of fresh air in a field that can often seem dry and dauntingly theoretical, this book will open the reader’s eyes to the exhilarating possibilities of reading and studying literature.

Table of contents:

Alternative Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

How to Read This Book

Trigger Warning and Spoiler Alert

2. The Beginning
4. Literature
6. Readers and Reading
8. The Author
10. The Text and the World
12. The Uncanny
14. Monuments
16. Narrative
18. Character
20. Voice
22. Figures and Tropes
24. Creative Writing
26. Feelings
28. Loss
30. Laughter
32. The Tragic
34. Wounds
36. History
38. Me
40. Eco
42. Animals
44. Human
46. Ghosts
48. Body
50. Moving Pictures
52. Sexual Difference
54. God
56. Ideology
58. Love
60. Desire
62. Queer
64. Suspense
66. Racial Difference
68. Migrant
70. The Colony
72. Mutant
74. The Performative
76. Secrets
78. Pleasure
80. War
82. The End

Glossary

A Note on Texts Used

Literary Works Discussed

Bibliography of Critical and Theoretical Works

Index

Review quote:

Praise for previous editions:

‘This is a book which students in every introductory course on criticism and theory would benefit from having.’ Derek Attridge, University of York

‘[Bennett and Royle have] cracked the problem of how to be introductory and sophisticated, accessible but not patronising.’ Peter Buse, English Subject Centre Newsletter

‘Sparkling, enthusiastic and admir