Literary Theory - A Very Short Introduction

Many introductions to literary theory describe a series of ‘schools’ of criticism. Theory is treated as a series of competing ‘approaches’, each with its theoretical positions and commitments. But the theoretical movements that introductions identify – such as structuralism, deconstruction, feminism, psychoanalysis, Marxism, and new historicism – have a lot in common. This is why people talk about ‘theory’ and not just about particular theories. To introduce theory, it is better to discuss shared questions and claims than to survey theoretical schools. It is preferable to discuss important debates that do not oppose one ‘school’ to another but may mark salient divisions within movements. Treating contemporary theory as a set of competing approaches or methods of interpretation misses much of its interest and force, which come from its broad challenge to common sense, and from its explorations of how meaning is created and human identities take shape. I have preferred to take up a series of topics, focusing on important issues and debates about them and on what I think has been learned. Still, anyone reading an introductory book on literary theory has a right to expect an explanation of terms such as structuralism and deconstruction. I offer brief sketches of major critical schools or movements in the Appendix, which can be read first or last or referred to constantly. Enjoy! 1 What is Theory? 1 2 What is Literature and Does it Matter? 18 3 Literature and Cultural Studies 42 4 Language, Meaning, and Interpretation 55 5 Rhetoric, Poetics, and Poetry 69 6 Narrative 82 7 Performative Language 94 8 Identity, Identification, and the Subject 108 Appendix: Theoretical Schools and Movements 121 References 133 Further Reading 139 Index 145 حق تکثیر: انتشار در حریم عمومی اینترنت.