Introducing Literary Theories

This volume is an ideal introduction for those coming to literary theory for the first time. It covers the major theoretical approaches: Bakhtinian Criticism, Structuralism, Feminist Theory, Marxist Literary Theories, Reader-Response Theories, Psychoanalytic Criticism, Deconstruction, Poststructuralism, New Historicism, Cultural Materialism, Postcolonial Theory, Gay Studies/ Queer Theories, Cultural Studies and Postmodernism. Each chapter contains a clear presentation of the theory in question and applies it to an analysis of a key literary text to help students understand both the methodology and the practice of literary theory. The book is rounded out by useful bibliographies and a glossary of critical terms.

Contents; Preface and Acknowledgements; Abbreviations of Works Cited; Introduction, Julian Wolfreys; 1. R. Brandon Kershner: Mikhail Bakhtin and Bakhtinian criticism; Notes towards a reading of A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 2. K.M. Newton: Roland Barthes and structuralist criticism; Notes towards a reading of Middlemarch; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 3. Ruth Robbins: Will the real feminist theory please stand up?; Notes towards readings of Mrs Dalloway and Middlemarch; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 4. Moyra Haslett: The politics of literature: Marxist Literary Theories; Notes towards a reading of Mrs Dalloway; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 5. Martin McQuillan: There is no such thing as reader-response theory; Notes towards a reading of Mrs Dalloway; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 6. Jill Barker: The self, the other, and the text: Psychoanalytic Criticism; Notes towards a reading of The Tempest; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 7. Julian Wolfreys: Deconstruction, what remains unread; Notes towards a reading of In Memoriam A.H.H.; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 8. Mark Currie: Criticism and creativity: Poststructuralist Theories; Notes towards a reading of Mrs Dalloway; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 9. John Brannigan: History, power, and politics in the literary artifact: New Historicism; Notes towards readings of The Tempest & In Memoriam A.H.H; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 10. John Brannigan: Conflict and contradiction: Cultural Materialism; Notes towards readings of The Tempest & In Memoriam A.H.H; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 11. Gail Low & Julian Wolfreys: Postcolonialism and the difficulty of; difference; Notes towards readings of The Tempest & The Swimming-Pool Library; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 12. Jane Goldman & Julian Wolfreys: Works on the Wild(e) side - performing,; transgressing, queering: Gay Studies/Queer Theories; Notes towards a reading of The Swimming-Pool Library; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 13. Kenneth Womack: Theorizing culture, reading ourselves: Cultural Studies; Notes towards readings of The Swimming-Pool Library & Prospero's Books; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; 14. Arkady Plotnitsky: Postmodernism and Postmodernity: Literature,; Criticism,; Philosophy, Culture; Notes towards readings of The Tempest & Paradise Lost; Questions for further consideration; Annotated bibliography; Supplementary bibliography; Glossary; Index; Alternative Contents; In Memoriam. A.H.H: Deconstruction, New Historicism, Cultural Materialism; Middlemarch: Structuralism, Feminist Theory; Mrs Dalloway: Feminist Theory, Marxist Literary Theories, Reader-Response Theory, Poststructuralist Theories; Paradise Lost: Postmodernism; A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: Bakhtin and Bakhtinian Criticism; Prospero¹s Books: Psychoanalytic Criticism, Cultural Studies; The Swimming-Pool Library: Gay Studies/Queer Theories, Postcolonialism,; Cultural Studies; The Tempest: Psychoanalytic Criticism, New Historicism, Cultural Materialism,; Postcolonialism, Postmodernism.