An Introduction To Literature, Criticism And Theory (Paperback)

Critically, literary theory is a core subject in the study of literature. but theory— especially when it takes the form of ‘-isms’—can often be intimidating or boring for students. bennett & Royle have avoided simply giving potted summaries of ‘-isms’ and instead present brief essays on a range of key critical concepts, all of which have more or less familiar names. These concepts are put into practice through readings of particular literary texts. Salient Features* A new chapter on Film. This chapter explores the ways in which literature helps us to think about film, and, correspondingly, how studying film helps us to think about literature.* A new chapter on Creative Writing .* A new chapter on the Mutant: exploring general issues of mutation and mutability, including environmental issues, genetic engineering and cloning.* A new chapter on War: exploring the questions 'what is war?', 'what is war literature?' and 'in what ways is literary or cultural theory itself at war?'* All existing chapters updated and revised in light of recent developments in the field.* Updated and expanded further reading sections. Table of Contents* The beginning* Readers and reading* The author* The text and the world* The uncanny* Monuments* Narrative* Character* Voice* Figures and tropes* Creative writing* Laughter* The tragic* History* Me* Ghosts* Moving pictures* Sexual difference* God* Ideology* Desire* Queer* Suspense* Racial difference* The colony* Mutant* The performative* Secrets* The postmodern* Pleasure* War* The end