For courses in literary criticism or literary analysis. Theories and strategies for writing about literature By considering how adept readers behave and what assumptions they might make while interacting with literary text, Texts and Contexts: Writing About Literature with Critical Theory teaches students the challenging art of writing about literature. The Seventh Edition provides overviews of literature and how to write about it, as well as critical and literary theory with examples throughout. Students will learn versatile strategies in reading, writing, interpreting data, and constructing arguments that can be applied to virtually any field.   Also available with MyLiteratureLab MyLiteratureLab is an online resource that works with our literature anthologies to provide engaging experiences to instructors and students.   Students can access new content that fosters an understanding of literary elements, which provides a foundation for stimulating class discussions. This simple and powerful tool offers state-of-the-art audio and video resources along with practical tools and flexible assessment.  Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; MyLiteratureLab does not come packaged with this content. Students, if interested in purchasing this title with MyLiteratureLab, ask your instructor for the correct package ISBN and Course ID. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information. If you would like to purchase both the physical text and My##Lab, search for: 0134272455 / 9780134272450 Texts and Contexts: Writing About Literature with Critical Theory Plus MyLiteratureLab — Access Card Package Package consists of: 0133931269 / 9780133931266 MyLiteratureLab without Pearson eText — Standalone Access Card  0133931277 / 9780133931273  MyLiteratureLab without Pearson eText — Inside Star Sticker  032194562X / 9780321945624  Texts and Contexts: Writing About Literature with Critical Theory

Table of Contents:
BRIEF CONTENTS 1. An Introduction, Theoretically 2. Critical Words: A Selective Tour 3. Unifying the Work: New Criticism 4. Creating the Text: Reader-Response Criticism 5. Opening Up the Text: Structuralism and Deconstruction 6. Connecting the Text: Historical and New Historical Criticism 7. Minding the Work: Psychological Criticism 8. Gendering the Text: Feminist Criticism, Post-feminism, and Queer Theory   COMPREHENSIVE CONTENTS PREFACE 1.  An Introduction, Theoretically Textual Tours Checking Some Baggage “Is There One Correct Interpretation of a Literary Work?” “So, Are All Opinions About Literature Equally Valid?” Anything to Declare? Theory Enables Practice You Already Have a Theoretical Stance This is an Introduction Here’s the Plan Works Cited and Recommended Further Reading                                                                          2.  Critical Worlds: A Selective Tour Brendan Gill, from Here at “The New Yorker” New Criticism Reader-Response Criticism Structuralist and Deconstructive Criticism Historical, Postcolonial, and Cultural Studies Psychological Criticism Political Criticism Other Approaches Works Cited and Recommended Further Reading 3. Unifying the Work: New Criticism The Purpose of New Criticism Basic Principles Reflected Archibald MacLeish, “Ars Poetica” Radicals in Tweed Jackets How to Do New Criticism Film and Other Genres The Writing Process: A Sample Essay Gwendolyn Brooks, “The Mother” Preparing to Write Shaping Drafting Practicing New Criticism Stephen Shu-ning Liu, “My Father’s Martial Art” Questions Ben Jonson, “On My First Son” Questions The Parable of the Prodigal Son Questions Useful Terms for New Criticism Checklist for New Criticism Works Cited Recommended Further Reading 4.  Creating the Text: Reader-Response Criticism The Purpose of Reader-Response Criticism New Criticism as the Old Criticism The Reader Emerges Hypertextual Readers How to Do Reader-Response Criticism Preparing to Respond Sandra Cisneros, “Love Poem #1” Making Sense Subjective Response Receptive Response The Writing Process: A Sample Essay Preparing to Respond Ernest Hemingway, A Very Short Story Preparing to Write Shaping Drafting Practicing Reader-Response Criticism Michael Drayton, “Since There’s No Help”    Questions Judith Minty, Killing the Bear    Questions Tom Wayman, “Did I Miss Anything?”     Questions    A. Williams “deep as space”     Questions Useful Terms for Reader-Response Criticism Checklist: Using Reader-Response Criticism Works Cited Recommended Further Reading 5.   Opening Up the Text: Structuralism and Deconstruction The Purposes of Structuralism and Deconstruction Structuralism and Semiotics Poststructuralism and Deconstruction How to Do Structuralism and Deconstruction William Butler Yeats, “Sailing to Byzantium” The Writing Process: A Sample Essay Amy Clampitt, “Discovery” Preparing to Write Shaping Drafting Practicing Structuralist and Deconstructive Criticism Questions Cut through the anxiety, the unknown, the hassle . . . William Blake, “London” Questions Linda Pastan, “Ethics” Questions John Donne, “Death Be Not Proud” Questions Useful Terms for Deconstruction Checklist for Deconstruction Works Cited Recommended Further Reading 6. Connecting the Text: Historical and New Historical Criticism The Purposes of Historical and New Historical Criticism Biographical and Historical Criticism John Milton, “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent” Cultural Studies New Historicism History as Text Marxist Criticism Postcolonial and Ethnic Studies How to Do Biographical and Historical Criticism The Writing Process: Sample Essays John Cheever, Reunion A Biographical Essay Preparing to Write Shaping Drafting A New Historical Essay Preparing to Write Shaping