Critcal Theory books- advice needed (please!)

[nessieq]

Hello there everyone,

I'm new here and not really sure if this is the right place to put this- if it's not, I appologise, please move it.

Basically, I am an English student heading off to uni for the first time in September. Before I left school, my English teacher recomended I try to read a few books on literary critical theory over the summer to give myself a bit of a head start for when I start into study.

Since then, I've been scouring amazon and other online book websites for something which would be appropriate... but can I find anything?!?! Nope. The truth is that I dont know where to start and I could really do with someone to reccomend a good book as a starting point. I dont want anything relating to a specific book (like a study guide), as so many of the guides out there seem to do, but rather something that will explain the ideas of different ideas behind feminist criticisms, modernist criticisms... I can't even think of other types of criticism! That's how hopeless I am! :bawling: Lol! Ok, let's put 'etc' :lol:

Any advice you could give me would be VERY MUCH appreciated.

Thanks for your time,
ness.

[Aiculík]

Weeeell... we did have this one on our list in the first year: A History of Literary Criticism, From Plato to the Present, by M. A. R. Habib, but I can't tell you if it's any good... because I never read it!:D (Thanks God my professor can't see this)

Still it can't be too bad if it's known even in my country so try to find some reviews and see if it's worth to read it

[Logos]

I know you said you don't want any specific literary criticism books :) but have you gotten your reading list already? In my opinion it would help if you got the Norton Critical Edition
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nce_alphabetical_a-c.htm

of any of the titles. You can start study now, prepare yourself for what to expect, and focus on which types of criticism you will cover.

Lots of google hits for "literary critical theory":
http://www.amazon.com/Critical-Terms-Literary-Study-Lentricchia/dp/0226472035
http://www.cla.purdue.edu/academic/engl/theory/
http://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit/
http://www.kristisiegel.com/theory.htm

[nessieq]

Hello again,
thanks to you both for your help. Unfortunately I haven't got my reading list yet, which is the main problem- until I do I'm stuck being nervous and thinking I should be preparing myself, but unsure as to what I should be preparing myself for!! However, some of those links you gave me are really fantastic, and I'll look up the book as well. There are endless books and google hits on this topic, but what I need is a place to begin and you seem to have provided that. Thanks very much!
n.

[MaryLupin]

The problem with literary criticism is that it is a bit of a mine field. One guy says "this is the only way to understand a text" and another says the same thing except they are opposing view points. There is hope, however. If I were starting this thing all over again I would go find a book called "Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction." It's about $10 and is what it says it is ... a very short (but covers all the bases) introduction to literary theory. It's by Jonathan Culler. You can normally find these kinds of things at the big chain bookstores or online at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Literary-Theory-Short-Introduction-Introductions/dp/019285383X).

Once you have a good outline view of the history (actually make an outline, it will help you remember and keep the names straight) and major schools of criticism then go find one important book in each field (Culler will help with that) and read it to get a better grasp on how the critical theory impacts an understanding of text.

[aeroport]

In my opinion it would help if you got the Norton Critical Edition
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nce_alphabetical_a-c.htm
of any of the titles.


I second this; Norton is great. Also, Terry Eagleton's Literary Theory, an Introduction

[MaryLupin]

I second this; Norton is great. Also, Terry Eagleton's Literary Theory, an Introduction

Yeah. Eagleton is good. Have you read his After Theory? Not quite as good I thought. Also, do you think he's a touch one-sided?

[aeroport]

Yeah. Eagleton is good. Have you read his After Theory? Not quite as good I thought. Also, do you think he's a touch one-sided?

I've not read that one. I haven't actually read all of An Introduction, but reading through what I did made me feel a bit more prepared last year for entering the literary studies. :idea: Maybe I should actually go ahead and do it before class starts next week...

[MaryLupin]

I've not read that one. I haven't actually read all of An Introduction, but reading through what I did made me feel a bit more prepared last year for entering the literary studies. :idea: Maybe I should actually go ahead and do it before class starts next week...

Fine idea Jamesian!

[Psychosis]

Here are some international well-known books about Theory of Literature/CriticalTheory:

Roland Barthes, Writing Degree Zero (other books by this author may be also very helpful)
Bloom, Harold, Jacques Derrida, Geoffrey H. Hartman and J. Hillis Miller, Deconstruction and Criticism
Brooks, Cleanth e W. K. Wimsatt, Literary Criticism - A Short History
ROMAN JAKOBSON, there are many online sources

[Lyn]

THE best intro to literary theory I have ever read is 'Literary Theory: A guide for the perplexed.' by Mary Klages. I think I mentioned it on another thread. It is the easiest, shortest, most concise and clear introduction to literary theory I have ever come accross.
Put it this way, I've tried to read loads of literary theory books; Eagleton, Wolfreys, Barthes, Derrida, Susan Sontag, and although they were helpful and fairly interesting, I never finished any of them cos quite frankly, I got bored. I read this guide on the bus to work and had finished it in a week. Its great and won't confuse you.

[SleepyWitch]

The problem with literary criticism is that it is a bit of a mine field. One guy says "this is the only way to understand a text" and another says the same thing except they are opposing view points. There is hope, however. If I were starting this thing all over again I would go find a book called "Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction." It's about $10 and is what it says it is ... a very short (but covers all the bases) introduction to literary theory. It's by Jonathan Culler. You can normally find these kinds of things at the big chain bookstores or online at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Literary-Theory-Short-Introduction-Introductions/dp/019285383X).

Once you have a good outline view of the history (actually make an outline, it will help you remember and keep the names straight) and major schools of criticism then go find one important book in each field (Culler will help with that) and read it to get a better grasp on how the critical theory impacts an understanding of text.

you beat me to it :) I was about to say Culler. the book is a bit sketchy, but very entertaining :)