A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature - Softcover

Guerin, Wilfred L.; Labor, Earle; Morgan, Lee; Reesman, Jeanne C.; Willingham, John R.; Willingham, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195099559 ISBN 13: 9780195099553

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1998

Synopsis

Now in its fourth edition, A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature has become a standard introduction to the close reading of literature. It offers students and other readers a variety of ways to interpret a piece of literature, ranging from traditional approaches through the formalist, the psychological, the mythic and archetypal, and into such contemporary approaches as feminist criticism and cultural studies. Applying these diverse approaches to the same five works, the book shows students how various methods offer different insights, enriching their response to and understanding of the individual work. This fourth edition features a new chapter on cultural studies and the inclusion and interpretation of Alice Walker's singularly rich short story, "Everyday Use."

About this title

About the Author:

Wilfred L. Guerin, Professor of English, Louisiana State University, Shreveport. Lee Morgan, Brown Professor Emeritus of English, both at Centenary College.

Review:

"An outstanding text!"--Scot Lahaie, Baylor University

"Accessible to my students without watering down the concepts they are required to study."--Mindy Williams, California State University, Chico

"Consistently smart, even-handed, even-tempered, and interesting--a fine introduction to literary studies."--Gardner Campbell, Mary Washington College

"The classic of its kind. I recommend it to all English majors."--Hebert V. Fackler, University of Southwestern Louisiana

"Though called a handbook, this text in reality is a comprehensive survey of the most important and popular approaches to literary criticism of the past century. Ideal as an introduction and for in-depth studies of criticism, this significantly revised edition is both teacher- and
scholar-friendly. Excellent model essays of criticism are the norm in this most thoughtful and rewarding book."--Earl J. Wilcox, Executive Director, College English Association

"A familiar guide for students that is better than ever. Indeed, with this edition, A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature attains the status of a classic textbook, where it rubs elbows with the likes of Brooks and Warren's Understanding Poetry and Perrine's Sound and Sense."--Donald
D. Kummings, University of Wisconsin-Parkside

"This internationally renowned book in its fourth edition is one of the best introductions to criticism. From traditional to recent criticism, with abundant practical application to literary texts, it provides students and general readers with all of the basic knowledge of ways to read
literature." --James R. Bennett, Professor Emeritus, University of Arkansas

"With attention both to the various forms of applied literary criticism and to their theoretical foundations, this carefully updated edition of a long-familiar classic will serve the needs of a variety of students and readers: beginning students of literature will find the mysteries of
literary interpretation unveiled, advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students will find a coherent framework in which to place their continued study, the general reader will find an accessible introduction to the diverse vitality of literary studies today, and perhaps even the seasoned
literature professor will discover again the intellectual excitement which attracted him or her to the field in the first place."--John S. Hardt, Associate Dean of the College and Professor of English, Ferrum College

"What a wonderful, useful text....It worked like a charm for me."--Sarah Dangelantonio, Franklin Pierce College

"Provides thorough discussion of the issues involved in reading literature at the turn of the century. Students are taken from naive, common-sense responses through sophisticated ways of reading."--Tom Smith, Penn State

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0195099559
• ISBN 13: 9780195099553
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 414