SHARE

Beginning theory

An introduction to literary and cultural theory: Fourth edition

By Peter Barry

Beginning theory
Paperback +
  • Price: £11.99
  • ISBN: 9781526121790
  • Publish Date: Aug 2017
  • Publisher: Manchester University Press
  • Buy Now

    eBook -
  • Price: £11.99
  • ISBN: 9781526121806
  • Publish Date: Aug 2017
  • Publisher: Manchester University Press
  • Buy Now

    Book Information

    • Format: eBook
    • Published Date: August 2017
    • Series: Beginnings

    Description

    Beginning theory has been helping students navigate through the thickets of literary and cultural theory for over two decades. This new and expanded fourth edition continues to offer readers the best single-volume introduction to the field.

    The bewildering variety of approaches, theorists and technical language is lucidly and expertly unravelled. Unlike many books which assume certain positions about the critics and the theories they represent, Beginning theory allows readers to develop their own ideas once first principles and concepts have been grasped.

    The book has been updated for this edition and includes a new introduction, expanded chapters, and an overview of the subject ('Theory after "Theory"') which maps the arrival of new 'isms' since the second edition appeared in 2002 and the third edition in 2009.

    Reviews

    'There is no other book that offers such a comprehensive account of the field, combined with thoughtful, detailed exposition of the theoretical approaches under discussion. Far from being a modest survey of contemporary literary theory, it has had a vital role in shaping the way that theory is taught in Britain and North America.'
    English Association Newsletter

    'In the fourth edition of his popular introduction to literary theory, Barry (emer., Aberystwyth Univ., Wales) amends and updates earlier versions (1995, 2002, 2009) and adds sections on newer theories such as consilience and posthumanism. The book is written explicitly for students of English literature, and in citing examples Barry tends to stick to the canonical-Wordsworth, Austen, Shakespeare, et al.-which renders the book less useful than it might be for students of other literatures and languages. Nevertheless, Barry's readable text focuses helpfully on putting students at ease and giving them tools to think through difficult concepts and theories. In addition, practical exercises familiarize students new to the discipline with different ways of using theory to analyze literature. Most of the changes to the new edition are insubstantial, and some newer theories and practices, such as those relating to technology, are given short shrift. The majority of the references and suggestions for further reading are also the same as those used in earlier versions. Even so the book provides an approachable, understandable introduction to literary theory and would be useful to those not already in possession of the third edition.'
    M. Anderson, Southern Oregon University, Choice connect, Vol. 56, No. 2, October 2018

    Contents

    Preface to the fourth edition
    Introduction
    1 Theory before 'theory'
    2 Structuralism
    3 Post-structuralism and deconstruction
    4 Postmodernism
    5 Psychoanalytic criticism
    6 Feminist criticism
    7 Queer theory
    8 Marxist criticism
    9 New historicism and cultural materialism
    10 Postcolonial criticism
    11 Stylistics
    12 Narratology
    13 Ecocriticism
    14 Literary theory - a history in ten events
    15 Theory after 'Theory'
    Appendices
    Where do we go from here? Further reading
    Index

    Author

    Peter Barry is Emeritus Professor of English at Aberystwyth University

    To purchase as an ebook, please visit your preferred ebook supplier

    Amazon Amazon Waterstones Blackwells Bookshop Kobo

    Newsletter Sign Up

    Manchester University Press
    Close

    Your cart is empty.

    Total
    Select your shipping destination to estimate postage costs

    (Based on standard shipping costs)

    Final cost calculated on checkout
    Checkout
    Promotional codes can be added on Checkout