Literary theory
Walter Veit
8 or 12 points * 2 hours per week * Full year subject * Clayton
The subject will examine the theory and practice of a number of the major schools in contemporary literary criticism: hermeneutics and reception theory; semiotics and structuralism; Marxism and critical theory; psychoanalytic criticism; poststructuralism, postmodernism and feminist literary theory.
Assessment: 8 points
Two essays (3000 words each)
Assessment: 12 points
Three essays (3000 words each)
Prescribed texts
Eagleton T Literary theory: An introduction Blackwell
Rice P and Waugh P (eds) Modern literary theory: A reader 2nd edn, Edward Arnold
Selden R A reader's guide to contemporary literary theory Harvester
Recommended texts
Bloch E and others Aesthetics and politics Verso
Eagleton T Criticism and ideology Verso
Freud S The interpretation of dreams Penguin
Gadamer H.-G Truth and method Seabury
Habermas J Knowledge and human interest Heinemann
Innis R (ed.) Semiotics: An introductory anthology Indiana UP
Irigaray L This sex which is not one Cornell UP
Kamuf P (ed.) A Derrida reader Columbia UP
Lacan J Écrits Tavistock
Lodge D (ed.) Modern criticism and theory Longman
Moi T (ed.) The Kristeva reader Blackwell