Literary Theory: The Basics / Edition 3

by Hans Bertens

Overview

This third edition of Hans Bertens’ bestselling book is an essential guide to the often confusing and complicated world of literary theory. Exploring a broad range of topics from Marxist and feminist criticism to postmodernism and new historicism Literary Theory: The Basics covers contemporary topics including:

• reception theory and reader response theory
• the new criticism of postmodernism
• the ‘after theory’ debate
• post-humanism, biopolitics and animal studies
• aesthetics

Literary Theory: The Basics helps readers to approach the many theories and debates in this field with confidence. Now with updated case studies and further reading this is an essential purchase for anyone who strives to understand literary theory today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415538077
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/09/2013
Series:	The Basics
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Hans Bertens is Professor of Comparative Literature at Utrecht University, the Netherlands.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Reading for meaning: practical criticism and New Criticism 2. Reading for Form I: Formulism and easy structuralism, 1914-60 3. Reading for form II: French Structuralism, 1950-75 4. Political Reading: the 1970s and 1980s 5. The Postructuralist revolution: Derrida, deconstruction, and postmodernism 6.Postructuralism continued: Foucault, Lacan, and French feminism 7. Literature and culture: the new historicism and cultural materialism 8. Postcolonial criticism and theory 9.Sexuality, Literature, and culture 10. Ecocriticism 11. New Directions Conclusion

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