A lively discussion of literary theory's central concerns The Complete Idiot's Guide (R) to Literary Theory and Criticism has all the information a budding literary theorist needs to know to understand dozens of stimulating perspectives for approaching literature and film. Internationally recognised literary theorist Steven J. Venturino offers you easy-to-follow explanations of theories that range from established classics to the controversies of current theory with references and quotations from both classic and modern novels, stories, plays, poems, and movies. Learn how to relate different theories to selected key titles or how they can be grouped together thematically as well as the various traditions and influences that are a part of larger literary analysis. Moving beyond the basics, you'll also find the important arguments, key figures, and history of the subject as well as on-line resources. If you don't know your Plato from your Freud or want to discover more about the world of literary theory and criticism, then The Complete Idiot's Guide (R) to Literary Theory and Criticism is the book for you.

Author Biography

Steven J. Venturino is an award-winning educator and an internationally recognised literary theorist. In addition to teaching, he has written several essays for specialists as well as academic readers and has edited a volume of conference proceedings.