Literature and the Critics: Developing Responses to Texts

A collection of extracts from over two hundred literary critics of the last several decades, covering widely studied literary texts in English from Shakespeare to Toni Morrison, presented chronologically and structured to demonstrate different methods and approaches to critical practice. The book includes critical voices from Abrams and Adelman to Zimmerman and Žižek, providing students with models for reading, thinking, and writing about texts and developing their own critical responses. It also explores the connections between criticism, culture, and politics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 03 March 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive and engaging collection of excerpts from over two hundred renowned literary critics of the past several decades offers a rich and immersive exploration of numerous widely studied literary texts in English, spanning from Shakespeare to Toni Morrison. Organized chronologically, the book traverses familiar literary periods, presenting illuminating and thought-provoking examples of critical readings of well-known texts, showcasing a diverse range of methods and approaches to critical practice. The diverse range of critical voices represented, ranging from Abrams and Adelman to Zimmerman and Žižek, serves as eloquent and insightful models for students to emulate as they develop their own critical responses and cultivate independent reading skills. Furthermore, the book sheds light on the evolution of criticism over time and its profound connection to broader cultural, social, and political debates. The first chapter of the book delves into these connections, providing a broad and encompassing perspective on the interplay between criticism, culture, and politics.

Richard Jacobs, in his warm, clear, and captivating style, serves as an ideal introduction to literature and criticism. This book is a valuable resource for students, who will undoubtedly revisit it throughout their courses as they expand their reading horizons and encounter new texts and critical perspectives.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367650407