The English Literature Companion

'This is a Guide that I would recommend to beginning students, without any doubt.' - Jean-Michel Rabate, Professor of English and Comparative Literature, University of Pennsylvania, USA 'The English Literature Companion would be useful for anyone considering studying or already studying for a degree or just interested in the subject...Although made up of essays by different contributors it is easy to read and the quick reference sections of terms and events definitely support understanding.' - Claire Buckley, Assistant Librarian, The Leeds Library, Leeds, Language and Literature

JULIAN WOLFREYS is Professor of Modern Literature and Culture at Loughborough University, UK. He was previously Professor in Literature at the University of Florida, USA. His teaching and research is concerned with 19th- and 20th-century British literary and cultural studies, literary theory, the poetics and politics of identity, and the idea of the city. He is the series editor of Transitions and his publications include Introducing Literary Theories (ed.), Readings: Acts of Close Reading in Literary Theory, Critical Keywords in Literary and Cultural Theory, Thinking Otherwise: Difference and Pedagogy and Literature, in Theory: Tropes, Subjectivities, Responses and Responsibilities.

Acknowledgements.- Preface: How to use the book.- PART I: ABOUT LITERATURE.- Literature: Fundamental Questions.- Introduction; J.Wolfreys.- What is Literature?; B.Overton.- Why Study Literature?; K.Womack.- Your Literature Course.- What to Expect from your English Course; J.Wolfreys.- Typical Structure and Content; J.Wolfreys.- Literature and Language; J.Wolfreys.- Literature and Creative Writing; J.Cooke.- Comparative Literature; D.Bremm.- Getting the Most from your Course: J.Wolfreys.- Study Skills for Literature.- Introduction: J.Wolfreys.- Study Skills: C.Ringrose.- Writing and Presentation; J.Wolfreys.- PART II: LITERATURE MODULES.- Literature.- Introduction.- Critical Studies: an Example of a Core Module; J.Wolfreys.- Periods.- Old English Literature; P.Semper.- Medieval Literature; D.Griffith.- The Sixteenth Century; J.Fitzpatrick.- The Seventeenth Century; H.Adlington.- The Eighteenth Century; B.Overton.- Romanticism and Gothic; I.McCormick.- The Nineteenth Century and the Victorians; C.Kelley.- Modernism; A.Murray.- Forms, Genres and Other Popular Modules.- Tragedy; J.Wolfreys.- Comedy; J.Wolfreys.- The Novel; H.Wright.- Poetry; B.Overton.- Drama; N.Swettenham & R.J.Brocklehurst.- Epic; N.Wood.- Lyric; N.Wood.- Satire; N.Wood.- Realism; L.Phillips.- Fiction; L.Phillips.- Contemporary and Postmodern Fiction; A.Murray.- Gender; D.Bremm.- Class; N.Freeman.- Colonial and Postcolonial Literature; J.Ramone.- Subjectivity; M.Becker-Leckrone.- Chidren's Literature; J.Bavidge.- Film Studies; A.Dix.- Popular Fiction; J.Baetens.- American Literature; B.Jarvis & A.Dix.- Contemporary Literature; J.Wolfreys.- PART III: CRITICAL APPROACHES AND SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT.- Critical Approaches.- Introduction; J.Wolfreys.- Formalism; M.Becker-Leckrone.- Archetypal Criticism; D.Bremm.- New Criticism; M.Becker-Leckrone.- Bakhtin and Dialogic Criticism; K.Zbinden.- Feminism; R.Robbins.- Marxism; A.Murray.- Structuralism; A.Murray.- Psychoanalysis; B.Jarvis.- Deconstruction; M-D.Dick.- Postcolonialism; J.Ramone.- New Historicism; C.Ringrose.- Cultural Materialism; A.Murray.- African American Criticism; A.Dix.- Chicano/a Studies; J.Ramone.- Gay Studies and Queer Theory; H.Davies.- Cultural Studies; B.Jarvis.- Ecocriticism; J.Bavidge.- Postmodernism; A.Dix.- PART IV: KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS; R.Robbins, J.Wolfreys & K.Womack.- PART V: CAREER PATHWAYS.- Introduction; J.Wolfreys.- Careers for English Graduates; R.Robbins.- The Experience of a Degree in English; C.Bowditch.- Interview, Conducted by Claire Bowditch.- Conclusion; J.Wolfreys.- PART VI: LEARNING RESOURCE; J.Wolfreys.- Chronology.- List of Contributors.- Index.