Literary Theory

Michael Ryan's "Literary Theory: A Practical Introduction, Second Edition" introduces students to the full range of contemporary approaches to the study of literature and culture, from Formalism, Structuralism, and Historicism to Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies, and Global English. The emphasis is on basic pedagogy for first time students. Each theory or approach is explained in a way suitable for beginners before it is brought to bear on the same small selection of literary texts, from "King Lear" to Alice Munro's short stories and Elizabeth Bishop's poetry. This edition is unique in that it expands the range of texts to include film, from "The Matrix" to "Run, Lola, Run". "Literary Theory: A Practical Introduction" is an ideal resource for use in introductory courses on literary theory and criticism. It contains accessible accounts of a number of different theoretical approaches, and it demonstrates how the same classic texts, when read from varying perspectives, can lead to differing interpretations. This book is designed to function as both a stand-alone text and a companion to Rivkin and Ryan's "Literary Theory: An Anthology, Second Edition".