An Introduction to Literature Criticism and Theory

by Bennett, Andrew; Royle, Nicholas

• ISBN13: 9780130109149
• ISBN10: 0130109142
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

This book presents the key critical concepts in literary studies today, avoiding the jargonistic, abstract nature of much 'theory'. The authors explore crucial issues in contemporary criticism and theory by focusing closely on a range of texts, from Chaucer to Achebe and from Milton to Morrison.

Author Biography

Andrew Bennett is Reader in English Literature at the University of Bristol.

Table of Contents

Preface to the first edition	vii
Preface to the second edition	viii
The beginning	1	(8)
Readers and reading	9	(10)
The author	19	(9)
The text and the world	28	(8)
The uncanny	36	(8)
Monuments	44	(10)
Narrative	54	(9)
Character	63	(8)
Voice	71	(9)
Figures and tropes	80	(9)
Laughter	89	(10)
The tragic	99	(11)
History	110	(12)
Me	122	(10)
Ghosts	132	(9)
Sexual difference	141	(9)
God	150	(10)
Ideology	160	(8)
Desire	168	(10)
Queer	178	(10)
Suspense	188	(9)
Racial difference	197	(8)
The colony	205	(10)
The performative	215	(7)
Secrets	222	(9)
The postmodern	231	(10)
Pleasure	241	(10)
The end	251	(9)
Glossary	260	(10)
Select bibliography of other introductory texts and reference works	270	(2)
Literary works discussed	272	(4)
Bibliography of critical and theoretical works	276	(18)
Index	294