Contemporary Literary Theory

This series of essays has been designed to analyze the relationship between contemporary literary theory and critical and pedagogical practice. The authors have selected 12 of the most prominent, influential and far-reaching theoretical positions currently available, such as hermeneutics, archetypal criticism, deconstruction, psychoanalysis, feminism and Marxism. The aim of the text is to provide discussions that straightforwardly describe the primary features, background, strategies and implications of those theories which are most influential at the present time.;The essays are directed specifically towards the student and non-specialist requiring detailed and accessible introductions to theoretical positions, and are offered not as a substitute for reading the theories themselves, but as an aid in doing so. The book derives from the recognition that as prominent, influential and important as theory has become, it has not significantly affected classroom teaching.