An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory

Andrew Bennett And Nicholas Royle

this is a new kind of book. It offers new ways of thinking about literature and about what is involved in reading critically. It is designed to be clear ccessible to those who  are beginning to study literature, as well as to more advanced students. Although written with  university students in mind, we dare to hope that it might also be of interest to other readers. Literary theory is an unavoidable part of studying literature and criticism. But theory –  especially when it takes the form of ‘isms’ – can often be intimid- ating or else, frankly, boring.

We have tried to avoid simply giving potted summaries of isms. Instead we present brief essays on a  range of key critical concepts all of which have more or less familiar names. We put these concepts  into practice through readings of particular literary texts. Our primary focus, in other words, is  on what is powerful, complex and strange about literary works themselves. Our aim is to explain,  entertain, stimulate and challenge. The book is divided into twenty-four chapters and looks as if it has a certain order or  progression. It begins with ‘The beginning’ and ends with ‘The end’. But it has been put together  in such a way that it can also be read starting from any one chapter. ‘The end’, for example, is  not a bad place to begin. Each chapter concludes with some suggestions for further reading. There  is a glossary of critical and theoretical terms at the back of the book, plus a full bibliography of the texts discussed.