Literary Theories: A Reader and Guide

Literary Theories: A Reader and Guide is the first reader and introductory guide in one volume. Bringing together theoretically orientated readings by leading exponents of literary theory with lucid introductions, the book offers the student reader a foundation textbook in literary theory. Divided into 12 sections covering structuralism, feminism, marxism, reader-response theory, psychoanalysis, deconstruction, post-structuralism, postmodernism, new historicism, postcolonialism, gay studies and queer theory, and cultural studies, Literary Theories introduces the reader to the most challenging and engaging aspects of critical studies in the humanities today. Each section contains several influential texts that provide discussion of theoretical positions and striking examples of close readings of various works of literature from a number of perspectives. The introductions introduce the theory in question, discuss its main currents, give cross-references to other theories, and contextualise the readings that follow. An indispensable aid to understanding theory, Literary Theories is a significant introduction to theoretical approaches to literature. * Unique combination of an anthology of core texts and a thorough introductory guide Each of the 12 sections contains: - Several key texts - An accessible 5000 word introduction * Texts selected for their coverage of themes (ie questions of language, genre, the nature of reading, race and gender) and author (from Shakespeare to Virginia Woolf) * Three bibliographies: an annotated bibliography introducing the reader to the arguments of influential texts in each field, a supplementary reading list and a list of works cited