The ten topics contained in Twentieth-Century Literary Theory reflect contemporary theoretical interests and guide the reader through fundamental questions, from the formation to the uses of theory, and from the construction to the interpretation of literature. The selected essays cover a wealth of scholarship from both the United States and Europe. They go beyond traditional categories by focusing on issues rather than writers or critical movements, thus providing a forum for the continuing discussion of what theory is and does.

Considering The Great Popularity Of The First Four Editions Of The Book, Twentieth Century Literary Criticism, And Keeping In Mind The Valuable Suggestions Received From Several Quarters, The Present Fifth Edition Has Been Revised And Enlarged By An Addition Of Twelve New Chapters. It Contains Fifty Chapters In All, Organized Into Two Parts.Part I Of The Book Lays Emphasis On Various Schools Of Criticism That Are Prevalent In India And The West. Each Chapter Contains An Analysis Of The Theory In Question And Shows The Trend And Development As Well As The Methodology Of Literary Criticism In The 20Th Century. Recent Issues In Twentieth Century Criticism, Postcolonial Theory, Translation Theory, Cultural Criticism And Gender Studies Are Among The Many Attractions Of The Book.Part Ii Of The Book Contains Discussions On A Large Number Of Critical Essays And Critics Such As Eliot, Richards, Leavis, Barthes, Foucault And The Postcolonial Critics. The Seminal Critical Essays Included In This Section Have Influenced The Critical Trends In The Twentieth Century And Changed The General Perception Of Criticism. These Chapters, Apart From Giving A Comprehensive Idea Of The Critical Concepts Also Provide An Analytic Study Of The Critical Works. Important Postcolonial Critics Like Edward Said, Homi K. Bhabha And Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak Have Been Discussed With New Insight.Professor Das Has Explained The Theories And The Texts With Clarity And Precision In A Lucid Language. This Is An Invaluable Reference Book For Anyone Interested In The Field Of Literary Criticism In The Twentieth Century.

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- 1. The Critical Revolution Turns Right -- 2. The Scholarly Turn -- 3. The Historicist/Contextualist Paradigm -- 4. The Critical Unconscious -- Conclusion: The Future of Criticism -- Appendix: The Critical Paradigm and T.S. Eliot -- Notes -- Acknowledgments -- Index

A thoroughly revised edition of this successful undergraduate introduction to literary theory, this text includes core pieces by leading theorists from Russian Formalists to Postmodernist and Post-colonial critics. An ideal teaching resource, with helpful introductory notes to each chapter.

Originally published in French under the title Critique de la critique. This is a paperbound reprint of the 1987 translated edition, which includes an appendix written in response to American reactions to the French edition. It is the final volume in a trilogy devoted to the theory and tradition of literary criticism (its two predecessors are: Theories of the symbol and Symbolism and interpretation, both Cornell UP). Coverage here is of the Russian, German, French, and Anglo-American traditions. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Exploring the works of a diverse group of 20th century writers including D.H. Lawrence, H.L. Mencken, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Jacques Derrida, this book provides an accessible scholarly introduction to modern literary theory and criticism, placing various modes of criticism in their historical and intellectual contexts.