In Search of Authority - Third Edition: An Introductory Guide to Literary Theory

By Stephen Bonnycastle

Book Overview

In Search of Authorityis the most engaging introduction to literary theory available today. This is the third edition of a book that has been widely used to introduce undergraduates to the field of literary theory. Its distinctive quality is the way in which it makes complex literary theories, such as structuralism, deconstruction, and post-modernism, accessible to students by relating these theories to students' own enjoyment in reading literature. Each theory is illustrated by several applications of the theory to well-known literary works. Based on a reader-response approach to literature, In Search of Authoritybegins with an up-to-date account of the status of literary theory in the 21st century, including a response to recent debates about the "post-theory" question. It concludes with a discussion of how an understanding of literary theory can lead to the empowerment of the individual reader, and of how the authority of the professor can be gradually transferred to the student. This third edition has been revised and updated throughout. Each chapter ends with several questions to help students check their understanding of the key ideas in the chapter.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1551117673
• ISBN13: 9781551117676
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Broadview Press Inc
• Length: 278 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

What makes this book so good...

...is that it takes on an immense and complicated subject from the point of view of one person navigating his way through the field in a logical and straightforward way. Bonnycastle is clear about his own critical outlook and that is just one of the ways in which he creates context--transforming what could be countless and disparate stars in the sky into a logical sequence that holds together nearly like a narrative. I never thought I could understand the various approaches this quickly, and what's more, remember large chunks of the highly specialized vocabulary, but within Bonnycastle's structure, these things seem to fit together almost intuitively. I think this book should be required reading for Literature majors, or anyone thinking about graduate school in literature, creative writing, rhetoric or composition.

It could have been confusing . . .

. . . but it wasn't. Bonnycastle presents a plethora of modern forms of literary criticism (e.g., structuralism, deconstruction, new historicism, etc.) in a clear and enlightening manner. His use of examples are, in my opinion, superb. As an undergraduate English lit major, I appreciate his well-written guide to what could have been a depressing and frustrating study of literary theory.