In literature, and in literature alone, one can shake off the. Literary critical theory washington state university. Nature and functions of literary criticism literary. For more online courses, visit our complete collection of free online courses. A practical introduction to literary theory and criticism book. Fry offers in this welcome book a guided tour of the main trends in twent. Subsequent study in this field has strengthened this impression, bringing with it the realization that only a new, objective, and scientific approach to critical theory can ever. Fry video and audio lectures this lecture course, created for advanced undergraduates, is available for free though open yale courses.
The terms literary theory and critical theory refer to essentially the same fields of study. May 21, 2014 below is the fifth installment in the lecture series on literary theory and criticism by paul h. This is a survey of the main trends in twentiethcentury literary theory. I suppose i expect to be pointing to the board a little bit more today than ordinarily. It is designed for students at the undergraduate level or for others needing a broad synthesis of the long history of literary theory. It is worth mentioning here the stances of angloamerican new criticism, of russian formalism with its extensions in the prague.
But it is no accident that the emergence of so narrowly defined a philosophy of pure textuality and critical noninterference has coincided with the ascendancy of reaganism. Literary theory and schools of criticism introduction a very basic way of thinking about literary theory is that these ideas act as different lenses critics use to view and talk about art, literature, and even culture. This can be considered, i think, the triumph of the ethic of professionalism. Theory is interdisciplinary discourse with effects outside an original discipline. The usual function of my chalk equivalent of power point isnt quite the same today because im taking an interest in some of these diagrammatic matters as well and, as i say.
Literary theory, whether of the left or the right, has turned its back on these things. Introduction to theory of literature engl 300 in this first lecture, professor paul fry explores the courses title in three parts. Literary theory is not limited to literature but is applied to various cultural works, such as art, sculpture, paintings, and poetry. During my earliest readings in the history of critical theory i was considerably impressed with the conflicting and contradictory principles of literary criticism. In the sciences, theories are systems for understanding how an aspect of the world works. Literary theory and schools of criticism introduction.
John kenny, centre for the study of human settlement and historical change, national university of ireland, galway a readers guide to contemporary literary theory fifth edition selden, widdowson, brooker cover image. Paul fry is the william lampson professor of english at yale university, a specialist in british romantic poetry he received his ba from the university of california, berkeley and. Fry engages with the major themes and strands in twentiethcentury literary theory, among them the hermeneutic circle, new criticism. Theory of literature the open yale courses series ebook. Theory is analytical and speculative an attempt to work out what is involved in what we call sex or language or writing or meaning or the subject. A psychological approach to literary criticism by norman r. There are different types of literary theory, and each may be considered filters that. Farkas best articulates the premise of new historicism and cultural criticism. Engl 300 introduction to theory of literature professor paul h.
First, i want to make clear that literary theory is distinct from literary criticism, the. Lectures will provide background for the readings and explicate them. A very short introduction jonathan culler has always been about the best person around at explaining literary theory without oversimplifying it or treating it with polemical bias. Jul 01, 2014 introduction to theory of literature with paul h. At the heart of this greater understanding of life lie the roots of the various notions of self. It is the printed version of frys lecture course at yale. Below is the fifth installment in the lecture series on literary theory and criticism by paul h. Professor fry has been teaching, refining and updating the course of 26 hourlong lectures at yale.
Theory is a critique of common sense, of concepts taken as natural. You do have to analyze a text and support your assertions with specific evidence from experts and the text. The nature of literary theory before moving on to describe some of the strategies for using this book, i would like to discuss the nature of theory in general and the problems associated with literary theory in particular. His primary areas of specialization are british romanticism, the history of literary criticism, contemporary literary theory, and literature in relation to the visual arts. Historical biographical criticism until well into the 20th century, much of literary study was based on the assumption that to understand a work you need to understand the authors social background, the authors life, ideas circulating during the time the author was writing, what other works influenced the creation of the one under examination, and so on.
By nasrullah mambrol on may 4, 2017 10 german philosopher whose work has exerted an important influence upon a wide range of philosophical, literary, cultural and political movements in the twentieth century. Engl 300 introduction to theory of literature professor paul. Fry theory of literature consciousness literary theory. Among his previous books is wordsworth and the poetry of what we are, published by yale. Jonathan cullers ultimate aim, as his title suggests, is to make his readers aware of the literary i. Fry theory of literature free ebook download as pdf file. Jun 24, 2008 his primary areas of specialization are british romanticism, the history of literary criticism, contemporary literary theory, and literature in relation to the visual arts. Albert sbragia 3 the french revolution 49 david simpson 4 transcendental philosophy and romantic criticism 72 david simpson 5 nature 92 helmut j.
An introduction structuralism and semiotics 3 fryes work emphasizes as it does the utopian root of literature because it is marked by a deep fear of the actual social world, a distaste for history itself. The rise of literary theory 15 timeline 57 the scope of literary theory 63 critical theory 65 cultural studies 72 deconstruction 79 ethnic studies 86 feminist theory 94 gender and sexuality 102 marxist theory 108 narrative theory 115 new criticism 122 new historicism 129 postcolonial studies 5 postmodernism 144 poststructuralism 154. The three two lectures are here, here, here, and here. Fry is the william lampson professor of english and has taught at yale since 1971. Lectures will provide background for the readings and explicate them where appropriate, while attempting to develop a coherent overall context that incorporates philosophical and social perspectives on the recurrent questions. Recommended guides to theory temple university sites. They both address ways of looking at literature beyond the typical plotthemecharactersetting studies. These different lenses allow critics to consider works of art based on certain assumptions within that school of theory. The point of criticism is to argue your point of view on a work of literature. It was rhetoric that supplied much of what passes, in the surviving evidence, for literary theory by providing a rationale for producing as well as for judging actual literary performances see riggs by on.
Frys theory of literature stands out for a number of reasons that, taken together, make a compelling case for it being the classroom text of choice for lecturers working with advanced students on literary theory. So im going to be pointing to the board, at least in theory. Literary theory is simply the term used for a particular way of reading and viewing texts or looking at a text from a particular pointofview or reading a text from different perspectives you do not need to feel intimidated or worried about using literary theory its pretty easy. The ars rhetorica was for more advanced students, and the theory of rhetoric was both older and better developed than that of grammar. However, literary scholarship since the 19th century often includesin addition to, or even instead of literary theory in the strict senseconsiderations of intellectual history, moral philosophy, social prophecy, and other interdisciplinary themes which are of. A very short introduction is an exemplary work in this genre. A readers guide to contemporary literary theory 5th edition. Critics use literary theory as a way to interpret and process a variety of literary works. Bringing his perennially popular course to the page, yale university professor paul h.
First, i want to make clear that literary theory is distinct from literary criticism, the latter being the. Literary theory will be begin to guide your thoughts and change the way you interpret the world and culture within which you live. Get free literature courses online from the worlds leading universities. Fry offers in this welcome book a guided tour of the main trends in twentiethcentury literary theory. Paul fry is the william lampson professor of english at yale university, a specialist in british romantic poetry he received his ba from the university of california, berkeley and his ph. A focus on gayatri spivaks education and intellectual trajectory reveals a lifelong commitment to literarycritical studies alongside genuine political engagement. Frys introduction to theory of literature the literary lawyer. An introduction provides an accessible overview of major figures and movements in literary theory and criticism from antiquity to the twentyfirst century. Nature and functions of literary criticism free download as powerpoint presentation. A practical introduction to literary theory and criticism by. It is the printed version of fry s lecture course at yale.
This book, then, is an introduction to both literary theory and a history of theory. Shaffer 8 language theory and the art of understanding 162. He was educated at the university of california, berkeley and harvard and has been teaching at yale since 1971. Literary theory in a strict sense is the systematic study of the nature of literature and of the methods for analyzing literature. Fry explains the main ideas of every critical theory and gives his own opinion about these theories in a logical.
Introduction to literary theory linkedin slideshare. Oct 15, 2015 literary theory is simply the term used for a particular way of reading and viewing texts or looking at a text from a particular pointofview or reading a text from different perspectives you do not need to feel intimidated or worried about using literary theory its pretty easy all literary theorists. Introduction to theory of literature open yale courses. This guide is as stimulating and instructive an introduction to literary theory as any reader might wish for.
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