Literary Theory: The Complete Guide 2nd edition, The Complete Guide

The essence of literary theory is to examine and explain why the category "literature" has enduring cultural importance, says Klages, and to interrogate the forces that manipulate how people describe that importance. She argues that literary theory explains what literature it, how it differs from other kinds of writing, and how it functions within a cultural context. Her survey of approaches covers structuralism, deconstruction, psychoanalysis, feminist theories, queer theories, ideology and discourse, race and postcolonialism, ecocriticism, and postmodernism. She also includes biographical sketches of important figure in literary theory, and a glossary of terms. Annotation ©2017 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
Bringing together Mary Klages's bestselling introductory books Literary Theory: A Guide for the Perplexed and Key Terms in Literary Theory into one fully integrated and substantially revised, expanded and updated volume, this is an accessible and authoritative guide for anyone entering the often bewildering world of literary theory for the first time. Literary Theory: The Complete Guide includes: · Accessible chapters on all the major schools of theory from deconstruction through psychoanalytic criticism to Marxism and postcolonialism · New chapters introducing ecocriticism, affect theory and biopolitics · Expanded and updated guides to feminist theory, queer theory, postmodernism and globalization · New and fully integrated extracts of theoretical and literary texts to guide students through their use of theory · Accessible coverage of major theorists such as Saussure, Freud, Lacan, Foucault, Cixous, Deleuze and Guattari and BhabhaEach chapter now includes reflection questions for class discussion or independent study and a cross-referenced glossary of key terms covered, as well as updated guides to further reading on each topic. Literary Theory: The Complete Guide is an essential starting point for students of critical theory.