Literary Theory: Practical Introduction, A

Description: Michael Ryan's comprehensive textbook on the practice of literary theory demonstrates how the full panoply of theoretical approaches can be used to read the same texts. Designed for introductory criticism courses, either at the advanced undergraduate or at the beginning postgraduate level, it can be used to great advantage in conjunction with Julie Rivkin and Michael Ryan's Literary Theory: An Anthology, published by Blackwell in 1998. The key texts examined are: Shakespeare, King Lear; Henry James, The Aspern Papers Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye Elizabeth Bishop's poems At the Fishhouses, The Map, Moose and Sestina. The contending theories range from Formalism, Structuralism, Psychoanalysis, and Marxism, to Post-Structuralism, Feminism, Gender, Queer Theory and Gay/Lesbian Studies, Historicism, Ethnic Studies, Post-colonial and International Studies.


Contents: Acknowledgments. Preface: How To Use This Book. Part I: Formalism: Introduction. A Russian Formalist Reading of King Lear. Suggestions for a New Critical Reading of King Lear. A Formalist Reading of Elizabeth Bishop, The Moose. Suggestions for a Formalist Reading of Elizabeth Bishop, At the Fishhouses. Part II: Structuralism: Introduction. A Structuralist Reading of King Lear. Suggestions for a Structuralist Reading of The Aspern Papers. Suggestions for a Structuralist Reading of Elizabeth Bishop, The Map. Part III: Psychoanalysis: Introduction. A Psychoanalytic Reading of Elizabeth Bishop, In the Village and Sestina. A Psychoanalytic Reading of The Bluest Eye. Suggestions for a Psychoanalytic Reading of King Lear. Suggestions for a Psychoanalytic Reading of The Aspern Papers. Part IV: Marxism: Introduction. A Marxist Reading of King Lear. Suggestions for a Marxist Reading of The Aspern Papers. Suggestions for a Marxist Reading of Elizabeth Bishop, A Miracle for Breakfast. Suggestions for a Marxist Reading of The Bluest Eye. Part V: Post-Structuralism, Deconstruction, Post-Modernism: Introduction. A Post-Structuralist Reading of King Lear. A Post-Structuralist Reading of Elizabeth Bishop, Crusoe in England. Suggestions for a Post-Structuralist Reading of Over 2,000 Illustrations & a Complete Concordance. Suggestions for a Post-Structuralist Reading of The Bluest Eye. Part VI: Feminism: Introduction. A Feminist Reading of The Aspern Papers. Suggestions for a Feminist Reading of King Lear. Suggestions for a Feminist Reading of Elizabeth Bishop, Roosters. Suggestions for a Feminist Reading of The Bluest Eye. Part VII: Gender, Queer Theory, Gay/Lesbian Studies: Introduction. A Gender Reading of King Lear. Suggestions for a Gender Reading of Elizabeth Bishop, In the Waiting Room. Suggestions for a Gender Reading of The Bluest Eye. Part VIII: Historicism: Introduction. An Historicist Reading of King Lear. Suggestions for an Historicist Reading of The Aspern Papers. Suggestions for an Historicist Reading of Elizabeth Bishop, Twelve O'Clock News. Suggestions for an Historicist Reading of The Bluest Eye. Part IX: Ethnic, Post-Colonial, International Studies: Introduction. A Post-Colonial Reading of Elizabeth Bishop, Brazil, January 1, 1502. Suggestions for an Ethnic Studies Reading of Elizabeth Bishop, Faustina, or Rock Roses. Suggestions for an Ethnic Studies Reading of The Bluest Eye.

Back Cover Text:
Michael Ryan’s Literary Theory: A Practical Introduction picks up where Terry Eagleton’s celebrated Literary Theory: An Introduction left off by providing actual readings from a variety of theoretical perspectives at the same literary texts. Drawing on the full range of contemporary critical approaches, from Ethic Studies to Historicism, Queer Theory to Post–Modernism, Ryan reads Shakespeare’s King Lear, James’s "The Aspern Papers," Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, and Elizabeth Bishop’s poetry.
The book is ideal for use in introductory courses on literary theory and criticism. It contains accessible accounts of each theoretical approach, and it demonstrates how the same classic texts can be read differently from different theoretical perspectives. Using Ryan’s models and his "suggestions for reading," students can pursue their own readings of these classic texts and develop the own skills at practicing literary theory.