Literary Theory: A Practical Introduction, 2nd Edition

This new edition of Michael Ryan's Literary Theory: A Practical Introduction introduces students to the full range of contemporary approaches to the study of literature and culture, from formalism, structuralism, and historicism to ethnic studies, gender studies, and post-colonial studies.

The textbook provides basic instruction for first-time students. Each theory or approach is explained in a way suitable for beginners before it is brought to bear on the same small selection of literary texts, from King Lear to Alice Munro's short stories and Elizabeth Bishop's poetry. This edition is unique in that it expands the range of texts to include film, from The Matrix to Run, Lola, Run.

Literary Theory: A Practical Introduction is an ideal resource for use in introductory courses on literary theory and criticism. It contains accessible accounts of the full range of theoretical approaches, and it demonstrates how the same classic and contemporary texts, when read from different perspectives, can lead to a variety of interpretations. The book is designed to function as both a stand-alone text and a companion to Rivkin and Ryan's Literary Theory: An Anthology (2nd edition).