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The fourth edition of this classic beginner's guide to literary studies has been fully updated throughout. Mario Klarer offers a concise and accessible discussion of central issues in English and world literature as well as film and television series. Starting with the basics of what constitutes a literary text, the book moves through an analysis of major genres, important periods, and key theoretical approaches to literature and film. It also looks at the practicalities of finding and referencing secondary sources when writing a research paper.
The expanded new edition has been updated to include:
- a wider range of examples from world literature, cinema, and television series
- additional references to contemporary streaming formats
- updated chapters on postcolonial theory, cultural studies, gender theory, feminism, and queer theory
- new sections on digital humanities, ecocriticism, literary translations, and paratexts
- extended explanations of traditional genres, e.g., the epic, drama, and poetry
- a completely revised chapter on the most recent MLA guidelines with rules for citing new media formats
The detailed glossary ensures that the book is accessible to readers of any level, making this an ideal self-study guide or a course book for Introduction to Literature classes.
List of contents
Figures
Preliminary Remarks
Preface to the Fourth Edition
Acknowledgments
1. What Is Literature? What Is a Text?
Genre, Text Type, and Discourse
Primary and Secondary Sources
Paratexts
2. Major Genres in Literary Studies
Fiction
Poetry
Drama
Film
3. Periods of Literature
4. Theoretical Approaches to Literature
Text-Oriented Approaches
Author-Oriented Approaches
Reader-Oriented Approaches
Context-Oriented Approaches
Literary Critique or Evaluation
Film Theory
5. Where and How to Find Secondary Literature
6. How to Write a Research Paper
Structuring Your Research Paper
Citing Your Sources: The MLA Style Guide
7. Suggestions for Further Reading
General Literary Terminology
Authors and Works
Literary Theory
Genres
Literary History
How to Write a Research Paper
Glossary of Literary and Cinematic Terms
References
Author and Title Index
Subject Index
About the author
Mario Klarer is Professor of American Studies at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. His recent research interests focus on Mediterranean piracy and slavery. His publications include Barbary Captives (Columbia UP, 2022) and A Short Literary History of the United States (Routledge, 2014).
Summary
Mario Klarer offers a concise and accessible discussion of central issues in English and world literature. Starting with the basics of what constitutes a literary text, the book moves through analysis of major genres, major periods, and key theoretical approaches to literature.
