Castle Gregory. The Literary Theory Handbook

Wiley-Blackwell, 2013. — 426 p.Raising key questions about the nature of theory and literature, individual chapters offer historical, thematic, biographical, practical perspectives on theoretical concepts, ideas and modes of practice. A chapter on the historical development of theoretical movements, trends and ideas makes connections between and among theories across a century of development. Separate entries on major theories bring together similar methods or objects of study, such as Form, Structure, and Narrative, and short biographical sketches provide a handy reference for key theorists and their major works. The final section of the Handbook features brief readings of literary texts -- including works by Shakespeare, Conrad, Faulkner, Beckett, and Rushdie -- each informed by multiple perspectives that exemplify theoretical practice.