Why Study Literature? (Paperback)

Jan Alber

ISBN 10: 8779345514 / ISBN 13: 9788779345515

Published by Aarhus University Press, 2012

About this Item

Paperback. This book presents new ways of thinking about the historical, epistemological and institutional role of literature, and aims at providing a theoretically well-founded basis for what might otherwise be considered a relatively unfounded historical fact, i.e. that both literature and the teaching of literature hold a privileged position in many educational institutions. The contributors take their point of departure in the title of the volume and use narratological, historical, cognitive, rhetorical, postcolonial and political frameworks to pursue two separate but not necessarily related questions: Why literature? and, Why study? This collection brings together theoretical studies and critical analyses on literature as a medium among, and compared to, other media and includes essays on the physical and mental geography of literature, focusing on the consequences and values of its reading and studying. This book presents new ways of thinking about the historical, epistemological and institutional role of literature, and aims at providing a theoretically well-founded basis for what might otherwise be considered a relatively unfounded historical fact, i.e. that both literature and the teaching of literature hold a privileged position in many educational institutions. The contributors take their point of departure in the title of the volume and use narratological, historical, cognitive, rhetorical, postcolonial and political frameworks to pursue two separate but not necessarily related questions: Why literature? and, Why study? This collection brings together theoretical studies and critical analyses on literature as a medium among, and compared to, other media and includes essays on the physical and mental geography of literature, focussing on the consequences and values of its reading and studying. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9788779345515

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Why Study Literature? (Paperback)
• Publisher: Aarhus University Press
• Publication Date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 8779345514
• ISBN 13: 9788779345515
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The book presents new ways of thinking about the historical, epistemological and institutional role of literature. It aims at providing a theoretically well-founded basis for what might otherwise be considered a relatively unfounded historical fact, i.e. the fact that the teaching of literature holds a privileged position in many educational institutions. The collection brings together theoretical studies and critical analyses of literature as a medium among other media. The essays focus on the consequences and values of reading and studying literature. The contributors take their point of departure in the title of the volume and use narratological, historical, cognitive, rhetorical, postcolonial and political frameworks to pursue two separate but related questions: "Why read literature?" and "Why study literature?"