Texts and Contexts : Writing about Literature with Critical Theory

by Lynn, Steven Jay

• ISBN13: 9780321209429
• ISBN10: 0321209427
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

Deeply rooted in the views, responses, and history of contemporary critical theories,Texts and Contexts, Fourth Edition provides students with the knowledge and tools to write about literature effectively. The author presents a user-friendly introduction to contemporary critical theoriesufrom new criticism to cultural studies-as part of the practice of writing about literature.Texts and Contexts innovatively incorporates a step-by-step approach in each chapter guiding readers through the application of a particular theory and giving them clear examples of how to apply what other texts cover in abstract. In addition, the text provides a wealth of writing strategies, examples, and practice tests that assist in explaining the assumptions underlying the various critical theories. Readers engage in a unique learning experience of understanding about how the process of employing these methods enriches their engagements with literature. For those interested in learning more about critical theory in literature.

Table of Contents

Each chapter concludes with "Works Cited" and "Recommended Further Reading" sections

Preface

An Introduction, Theoretically

Textual Tours

Checking Some Baggage

Anything to Declare

Critical Visions: A Selective Tour

New Criticism

From Here at The New Yorker, Brendan Gill

Reader-Response Criticism

Deconstructive Criticism

Historical, Postcolonial, and Cultural Studies

Psychological Criticism

Feminist Criticism

Other Approaches

Unifying the Work: New Criticism

The Purpose of New Criticism

Basic Principles Reflected

Ars Poetica, Archibald MacLeish

Radicals in Tweed Jackets

How to Do New Criticism

The Writing Process: A Sample Essay

The Mother, Gwendolyn Brooks

Preparing to Write

Shaping

Drafting

Practicing New Criticism

Forgiving my Father, Lucille Clifton

Questions

My Father's Martial Art, Stephen Shu-ning Liu

Questions

Creating the Text: Reader-Response Criticism

The Purpose of Reader-Response Criticism

New Criticism as the Old Criticism

The Reader Emerges

Hypertextual Readers

How to Do Reader-Response Criticism

Preparing to Respond

Love Poem #1, Sandra Cisneros

Making Sense

Subjective Response

Receptive Response

The Writing Process: A Sample Essay

Preparing to Respond

A Very Short Story, Ernest Hemmingway

Preparing to Write

Shaping

Drafting

Practicing Reader-Response Criticism

Since There's No Help, Michael Drayton

Questions

Killing the Be

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