Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction (2nd Edition)

Description

Very Short Introductions have proven to be extremely popular with general readers, as well as undergraduates and their lecturers.

What is literary theory? Is there a relationship between literature and culture? In fact, what is literature, and does it matter?

These are some of questions addressed by Jonathan Culler in this Very Short Introduction to literary theory. Often a controversial subject, said to have transformed the study of culture and society in the past two decades, literary theory is accused of undermining respect for tradition and truth and encouraging suspicion about the political and psychological implications of cultural projects rather than admiration for great literature.

Here, Jonathan Culler explains ‘theory’, not by describing warring ‘schools’ but by sketching key ‘moves’ theory has encouraged, and speaking directly about the implications of theory for thinking about literature, human identity, and the power of language. In this new edition Culler takes a look at new material, including the ‘death of theory’, the links between the theory of narrative and cognitive science, trauma theory, ecocriticism, and includes a new chapter on ‘Ethics and aesthetics‘.

This lucid introduction is useful for anyone who has wondered what all the fuss is about or who wants to think about literature today.

Key Features

• Previous edition sold 114,000 copies
• Revised and updated, including new material about the ‘death of theory’; the links between the theory of narrative and cognitive science; trauma theory; and ecocriticism, as well as a new chapter on ‘Ethics and Aesthetics’
• A short and clear exposition of a notoriously difficult subject matter
• Instead of offering summaries of theories, it explores particular problems and approaches to solving them, including aspects of language, identity, and meaning
• Jonathan Culler is an extremely lucid commentator, much admired in the field of literary theory
• An understanding of literary theory is useful to students of any literature, making this an excellent introduction for literature undergraduates
• Part of the bestselling Very Short Introductions series – over three million copies sold worldwide

New to this Edition

• Includes new material looking at the ‘death of theory’; the links between the theory of narrative and cognitive science; trauma theory; and ecocriticism, as well as a new chapter on ‘Ethics and Aesthetics’
• Updated bibliographies

Table of Contents

1. What is theory?
2. What is literature and does it matter?
3. Literature and cultural studies
4. Language, meaning, and interpretation
5. Rhetoric, poetics, and poetry
6. Narrative
7. Performative language
8. Identity, identification, and the subject
9. Ethics and aesthetics
10. Appendix: Theoretical schools and movements
11. References
12. Further Reading
13. Index

About the Series

Oxford’s Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects – from Public Health to Buddhist Ethics, Soft Matter to Classics, and Art History to Globalization. Each volume provides an authoritative and engaging assessment of a concept, field, or body of work, drawing out the central ideas, themes, and approaches. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, new insights, and enthusiasm to make often challenging topics highly readable to develop your core knowledge. With over 700 titles and many more in development, as well as regularly updated new editions, the series is constantly evolving to reflect a contemporary readership. Whatever your area of study, whatever the topic that fascinates you, the series is an indispensable and accessible guide that will enrich your understanding.

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Author Biography

Jonathan Culler, Class of 1916 Professor of English and Comparative Literature, Cornell University

Jonathan Culler taught at Cambridge University and Oxford University before moving to Cornell, where he is Class of 1916 Professor of English and Comparative Literature. His Structuralist Poetics: Structuralism, Linguistics, and the Study of Literature, won MLA’s Lowell Prize and established his reputation as analyst and expositor of critical theory. He has published short introductions to Ferdinand de Saussure and to Roland Barthes, but he is known especially for On Deconstruction and Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction, which has been translated into some 20 languages. He has been President of the American Comparative Literature Association and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2001 and to the American Philosophical Society in 2006.