Description
Book SynopsisHow does literature work? And what does it mean? How does it relate to the world: to politics, to history, to the environment? How do we analyse and interpret a literary text, paying attention to its specific poetic and fictitious qualities? This wide-ranging introduction helps students to explore these and many other essential questions in the study of literature, criticism and theory. In a series of introductory chapters, leading international scholars present the fundamental topics of literary studies through conceptual definitions as well as interpretative readings of works familiar from a range of world literary traditions.
In an easy-to-navigate format, Literature: An Introduction to Theory and Analysis covers such topics as:
Key definitions from plot, character and style to genre, trope and author
Literature's relationship to the surrounding world ethics, politics, gender and nature
Modes of literature and criticism from books to perfo
Trade Review
[Employs] engaging writing and [a] clear layout of the topic ... A great resource for first timers in literary theory. The second and third sections of the volume are of greatest interest and can prove useful to those who wish to grasp how literary studies have embraced a wider scope both in theory and practice. * Style *
[An] interesting, helpful volume that, to use the words of J. Hillis Miller, ‘will be useful' for advanced literature courses, even postgraduate ones, or as a great resource for teachers of literature, or as a valuable resource for ordinary readers who may want to know something about what is meant by the ‘‘narrator’’ of a novel, or by ‘‘ethnicity’’ in literature. * The Year's Work in English Studies *
The range of topics covered in this volume is both capacious and creative. Individual entries are very deft in their interweaving of analysis with example and score high marks for clarity. An excellent resource for students as well as for anyone keen to brush up their knowledge of what’s happening in literary studies. * Rita Felski, William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of English, University of Virginia *
Table of Contents
Foreword J. Hillis Miller, University of California Irvine Introduction Thomsen et el, Aarhus University 1. Literature Lasse Horne Kjældgaard, Peter Simonsen, Roskilde University and University of Southern Denmark 2. Interpretation Jesper Gulddal, Newcastle, AU 3. Genre Eva Hättner Aurelius, Lund University 4. Narrative Stefan Iversen, Aarhus University 5. Character Lis Møller, Aarhus University 6.Narrator Jan Alber, Freiburg University 7. Style Lilian Munk Rösing, Copenhagen University 8. Sensation, Isak Winkel Holm, Copenhagen University 9. Rhytm. Dan Ringgaard, Aarhus University 10. Tropes Christoph Bode, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München 11. Intertext Elisabeth FriisLund University 12. Author Jon Helt Haarder, University of Southern Denmark 13. Reader Winfried Fluck, Freie Universität 14. History Mads Rosendahl Thomsen,Aarhus University 15. Ethics Lasse Horne Kjældgaard, Roskilde University 16. Politics Jakob Ladegaard, Aarhus University 17. Sex Lilla Toke and Karen Weingarten, Stony Brook and CUNY 18. Ethnicity Tabish Khair, Aarhus University 19. Desire Lilian Munk Rösing, Copenhagen University 20. Nature Peter Mortensen, Aarhus University 21. Place Frederik Tygstrup, Copenhagen University 22. Things Karin Sanders, UC Berkeley 23. Mobility Søren Frank, University of Southern Denmark 24. Memory Ann Rigney, Utrecht University 25. Archives Dennis Tenen, Columbia University 26. Books Tore Rye Andersen, Aarhus University 27. Adaptation Kiene Brillenburg, Utrecht University 28. Art Peter Simonsen, University of Southern Denmark 29. Performance Claire Warden, DeMontfort University 30. Translation Karen Emmerich, Princeton University 31. Creative writing Kiene Brillenburg, Utrecht University 32. Critical writing Gloria Fisk, CUNY 33. Quality Susan Bassnett, University of Warwick Index of schools Bibliography
