An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory

by Bennett, Andrew; Royle, Nicholas

• ISBN13: 9780582822955
• ISBN10: 0582822955
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-07-26
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

'The best introduction to literary study on the market' Jonathan Culler, Cornell University' 'The most un-boring, unnerving, unpretentious textbook I've ever come across' Elizabeth Wright, University of Cambridge 'It is by far the bext and most readable of all such introductions that I know of...The treatment of the various topics is masterful, even-handed, and informative. I cannot think of a better introduction for undergraduates, to be sure, but for many graduate students too.' Hayden White, University of California at Santa Cruz I don't know of any book that could, or does, compete with this one. It is irreplaceable' Richard Rand, University of Alabama (Bennett and Royle have) cracked the problem of how to be introductory and sophisticated, accessible but not patronising.' Peter Buse, English Subject Centre Newsletter An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theoryprovides a completely fresh and original introduction to literary studies. Bennett & Royle approach their subject by way of literary works themselves (a poem by Emily Dickinson, a passage from Shakespeare, a novel by Salman Rushdie), rather than by way of abstract theoretical ideas and isms. In thirty-two short chapters they focus on a range of familiar-looking terms (character, the author, voice, narrative) as well as less obvious ones (laughter, pleasure, ghosts, secrets) in order to show why such literary texts are so compelling. This third edition updates and expands on earlier editions, and includes new chapters on: bull; bull;creative writing bull;literature and film bull;war bull;monsters, mutants and the inhuman An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory avoids what is so frequently tiresome or intimidating about 'theory', offering instead an introduction that is consistently entertaining, thought provoking and surprising. The Authors The authors have wide experience of teaching and lecturing on literature and literary theory at universities in Britain, Europe and the United States. Andrew Bennett is Professor of English at the University of Bristol and Nicholas Royle is Professor English at the University of Sussex.

Author Biography

The authors have wide experience of teaching literature and literary theory at universities in Britain, Finland and Denmark.

Andrew Bennett is currently Professor of English at the University of Bristol. He has also authored: 'Romantic Poets and the Culture of Posterity' (CUP) and 'Katherine Mansfield' (Northcote House, 2003).

Nicholas Royle is currently Professor of English at the University of Sussex. He is the author of: 'The Uncanny: An Introduction' (MUP) and 'Jacques Derrida' in the Routledge Critical Thinkers Series.

 

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
Preface to the first edition	x
Preface to the second edition	xi
Preface to the third edition	xii
1 The beginning	1	(8)
2 Readers and reading	9	(9)
3 The author	18	(9)
4 The text and the world	27	(7)
5 The uncanny	34	(8)
6 Monuments	42	(10)
7 Narrative	52	(8)
8 Character	60	(8)
9 Voice	68	(9)
10 Figures and tropes	77	(8)
11 Creative writing	85	(8)
12 Laughter	93	(10)
13 The tragic	103	(10)
14 History	113	(11)
15 Me	124	(9)
16 Ghosts	133	(9)
17 Moving pictures	142	(10)
18 Sexual difference	152	(9)
19 God	161	(10)
20 Ideology	171	(7)
21 Desire	178	(9)
22 Queer	187	(10)
23 Suspense	197	(9)
24 Racial difference	206	(8)
25 The colony	214	(9)
26 Mutant	223	(10)
27 The performative	233	(7)
28 Secrets	240	(8)
29 The postmodern	248	(10)
30 Pleasure	258	(10)
31 War	268	(12)
32 The end	280	(8)
Glossary	288	(9)
Select bibliography of other introductory texts and reference works	297	(2)
Literary works discussed	299	(5)
Bibliography of critical and theoretical works	304	(24)
Index	328