Literary Theory: The Basics

by Hans Bertens

Overview

Now in its fourth edition, Literary Theory: The Basics is an essential guide to the complicated and often confusing world of literary theory. Readers will encounter a broad range of topics from Marxist and feminist criticism to postmodernism, queer studies, and ecocriticism.

Literary Theory: The Basics shows, in an always lucid and accessible style, how literary theory and practice are connected, and considers key theories and approaches including:

• humanist criticism;
• structuralist and poststructuralist theory;
• postcolonial theory;
• posthumanism, ecocriticism, and animal studies;
• digital humanities and print culture studies.

Literary theory has much to say about the wider world of humanities and beyond, and this guide helps readers to approach the many theories and debates with confidence. Expanded with updates throughout, this is the go-to guide for understanding literary theory today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032446912
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/28/2024
Series:	The Basics
Edition description:	4th ed.
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.06(w) x 7.81(h) x (d)

About the Author

Hans Bertens is Professor Emeritus of Comparative Literature at Utrecht University, The Netherlands, and Past President of the International Comparative Literature Association. He has published in English and Dutch on postmodernism, American literature, and literary theory.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 Reading for Meaning: Practical Criticism and New Criticism

Chapter 2 Reading for Form and Function: Formalism and Early Structuralism, 1914-1960

Chapter 3 Reading for Form II: French Structuralism, 1950-1975

Chapter 4 Political Reading: Class, Gender, and Race in the 1970s and 1980s

Chapter 5 The Poststructuralist Revolution

Chapter 6 Literature and Culture: Cultural Studies, the New Historicism, Cultural Materialism

Chapter 7 Postcolonial Criticism and Theory

Chapter 8 Sexuality, Literature, Culture and Queer Studies

Chapter 9 Decentring the Human: Posthumanism, Ecocriticism, New Materialism, Animal Studies

Chapter 10 ‘Theory’, Post-Theory, New Challenges

Bibliography

Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

'Clear, vigorous and often creatively provocative, Hans Bertens's historical overview of western literary theory is one of the very best introductions currently available.' - Michael Worton, University College London, UK

Editorial Reviews

'Clear, vigorous and often creatively provocative, Hans Bertens's historical overview of western literary theory is one of the very best introductions currently available.' - Michael Worton, University College London, UK

From the Publisher