Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide

by Tyson; Lois

• ISBN13: 9780415974097
• ISBN10: 0415974097
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-08-14
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This new edition of the classic guide offers a thorough and accessible introduction to contemporary critical theory. It provides in-depth coverage of the most common approaches to literary analysis today: feminism, psychoanalysis, Marxism, reader-response theory, new criticism, structuralism and semiotics, deconstruction, new historicism, cultural criticism, lesbian/gay/queer theory, African-American criticism, and postcolonial criticism. The chapters provide an extended explanation of each theory, using examples from everyday life, popular culture, and literary texts; a list of specific questions critics who use that theory ask about literary texts; an interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald'sThe Great Gatsbythrough the lens of each theory; a list of questions for further practice to guide readers in applying each theory to different literary works; and a bibliography of primary and secondary works for further reading. This book can be used as the only text in a course or as a precursor to the studyof primary theoretical works. It motivates readers by showing them what critical theory can offer in terms of their practical understanding of literary texts and in terms of their personal understanding of themselves and the world in which they live. Both engaging and rigorous, it is a "how-to" book for undergraduate and graduate students new to critical theory and for college professors who want to broaden their repertoire of critical approaches to literature.

Table of Contents

Preface to the second edition	xi
Preface for instructors	xiii
Acknowledgments	xv
Everything you wanted to know about critical theory but were afraid to ask	1	(10)
Psychoanalytic criticism	11	(42)
The origins of the unconscious	12	(3)
The defenses, anxiety, and core issues	15	(3)
Dreams and dream symbols	18	(3)
The meaning of death	21	(3)
The meaning of sexuality	24	(2)
Lacanian psychoanalysis	26	(8)
Classical psychoanalysis and literature	34	(3)
Some questions psychoanalytic critics ask about literary texts	37	(2)
``What's Love Got to Do with It?'': a psychoanalytic reading of The Great Gatsby	39	(10)
Questions for further practice: psychoanalytic approaches to other literary works	49	(1)
For further reading	50	(1)
For advanced readers	50	(3)
Marxist criticism	53	(30)
The fundamental premises of Marxism	53	(2)
The class system in America	55	(1)
The role of ideology	56	(5)
Human behavior, the commodity, and the family	61	(3)
Marxism and literature	64	(4)
Some questions Marxist critics ask about literary texts	68	(1)
You are what you own: a Marxist reading of The Great Gatsby	69	(10)
Questions for further practice: Marxist approaches to other literary works	79	(1)
For further reading	79	(1)
For advanced readers	80	(3)
Feminist criticism	83	(52)
Traditional gender roles	85	(6)
A summary of feminist premises	91	(2)
Getting beyond patriarchy	93	(2)
French feminism	95	(10)
Multicultural feminism	105	(3)
Gender studies and feminism	108	(9)
Feminism and literature	117	(2)
Some questions feminist critics ask about literary texts	119	(1)
``. . . next they'll throw everything overboard . . .'': a feminist reading of The Great Gatsby	120	(10)
Questions for further practice: feminist approaches to other literary works	130	(1)
For further reading	131	(1)
For advanced readers	131	(4)
New Criticism	135	(34)
``The text itself''	136	(2)
Literary language and organic unity	138	(5)
A New Critical reading of ``There Is a Girl Inside''	143	(4)
New Criticism as intrinsic, objective criticism	147	(1)
The single best interpretation	148	(2)
The question New Critics asked about literary texts	150	(1)
The ``deathless song'' of longing: a New Critical reading of The Great Gatsby	150	(14)
Questions for further practice: New Critical approaches to other literary works	164	(1)
For further reading	164	(1)
For advanced readers	165	(4)
Reader-response criticism	169	(40)
Transactional reader-response theory	173	(2)
Affective stylistics	175	(3)
Subjective reader-response theory	178	(4)
Psychological reader-response theory	182	(3)
Social reader-response theory	185	(2)
Defining readers	187	(1)
Some questions reader-response critics ask about literary texts	188	(2)
Projecting the reader: a reader-response analysis of The Great Gatsby	190	(12)
Questions for further practice: reader-response approaches to other literary works	202	(1)
For further reading	203	(1)
For advanced readers	204	(5)
Structuralist criticism	209	(40)
Structural linguistics	212	(3)
Structural anthropology	215	(1)
Semiotics	216	(3)
Structuralism and literature	219	(2)
The structure of literary genres	221	(3)
The structure of narrative (narratology)	224	(6)
The structure of literary interpretation	230	(3)
Some questions structuralist critics ask about literary texts	233	(1)
``Seek and ye shall find'' . . . and then lose: a structuralist reading of The Great Gatsby	234	(10)
Questions for further practice: structuralist approaches to other literary works	244	(1)
For further reading	245	(1)
For advanced readers	246	(3)
Deconstructive criticism	249	(32)
Deconstructing language	250	(5)
Deconstructing our world	255	(2)
Deconstructing human identity	257	(1)
Deconstructing literature	258	(2)
A deconstructive reading of Robert Frost's ``Mending Wall''	260	(5)
Some questions deconstructive critics ask about literary texts	265	(2)
``. . . the thrilling, returning trains of my youth . . .'': a deconstructive reading of The Great Gatsby	267	(11)
Questions for further practice: deconstructive approaches to other literary works	278	(2)
For further reading	280	(1)
For advanced readers	280	(1)
New historical and cultural criticism	281	(36)
New historicism	282	(9)
New historicism and literature	291	(4)
Cultural criticism	295	(2)
Cultural criticism and literature	297	(2)
Some questions new historical and cultural critics ask about literary texts	299	(2)
The discourse of the self-made man: a new historical reading of The Great Gatsby	301	(10)
Questions for further practice: new historical and cultural criticism of other literary works	311	(1)
For further reading	312	(1)
For advanced readers	313	(4)
Lesbian, gay, and queer criticism	317	(42)
The marginalization of lesbians and gay men	318	(4)
Lesbian criticism	322	(7)
Gay criticism	329	(5)
Queer criticism	334	(4)
Some shared features of lesbian, gay, and queer criticism	338	(3)
Some questions lesbian, gay, and queer critics ask about literary texts	341	(1)
Will the real Nick Carraway please come out?: a queer reading of The Great Gatsby	342	(11)
Questions for further practice: lesbian, gay, and queer approaches to other literary works	353	(2)
For further reading	355	(1)
For advanced readers	355	(4)
African American criticism	359	(58)
Racial issues and African American literary history	360	(7)
Recent developments: critical race theory	367	(18)
African American criticism and literature	385	(9)
Some questions African American critics ask about literary texts	394	(2)
But where's Harmlem?: an African American reading of The Great Gatsby	396	(13)
Questions for further practice: African American approaches to other literary works	409	(2)
For further reading	411	(1)
For advanced readers	411	(6)
Postcolonial criticism	417	(34)
Postcolonial identity	419	(5)
Postcolonial debates	424	(2)
Postcolonial criticism and literature	426	(5)
Some questions postcolonial critics ask about literary texts	431	(2)
The colony within: a postcolonial reading of The Great Gatsby	433	(12)
Questions for further practice: postcolonial approaches to other literary works	445	(1)
For further reading	446	(1)
For advanced readers	447	(4)
Gaining an overview	451	(6)
Index	457