Literary Theory - a Practical Introduction 3E

by Michael Ryan

Michael Ryan's comprehensive textbook on the practice of literary theory demonstrates how the full panoply of theoretical approaches can be used to read the same texts.

Genres: Nonfiction, Literature, Theory, School, Literary Fiction, Textbooks, Philosophy

Unknown Binding

First published November 28, 1998

About the author

The author is retired, living near Rochester, NY with his wife. They have one son living in Australia. Four cats and a few ferrets live at home with them where the author writes a blend of lightweight SF & Fantasy leavened with some mystery. Spiced with action, humor and romance, these tales are drawn from a lifetime of memories and wishes.

And a few regrets.

Reviews

[Melissa Rudder · Rating 2 out of 5]

Michael Ryan's Literary Theory: A Practical Introduction (Second Edition) briefly introduces such influential critical approaches as Formalism, Structuralism, Psychoanalysis, Deconstruction, Post-Colonial Theory, Marxist Theory, and Gender Studies. After touching on the main tenets of each approach, their essential thinkers, and developments/variations in each critical theory, Ryan applies each theory to several texts to illustrate their use. I can't decide how I feel about his text. While the premise--introducing theory, then applying it--has merit, I'm not sure if the book was successful. Basically, I can't figure out if my remaining confusion about literary theory is a result of some mistake or lack of Ryan's text or (as is more likely) user error.

Ryan's explanation of the theories was helpful. He clarified key terms and important distinctions in schools of thought, all without the convoluted and bombastic style too often adopted by literary theorists. I wish, however, he had done a better job in defining--in limiting, establishing boundaries around--his explanation of the theories. Clearly, critical methods, in their practical use, necessarily blend with one another. Lacan is informed by Saussure. Feminists use Deconstructionism. A Marxist critical work will utilize Formalist methods, New Historicism, Structuralism. But if I could have somehow seen these theories applied in isolation--magically, perhaps--it would really help.

One of Ryan's strongest moves was applying almost every literary theory to King Lear. Seeing the same text--a text most readers should be familiar with--through the different lenses of critical theories was very helpful. The most interesting and illuminating applications, in my opinion, were that of the gender studies chapter and deconstructionism chapter. Ryan also demonstrates the versatility of literary theories by applying each to works of different genres, including short stories, poems, dramas, novels, and films. While the variety of texts studied is one of the book's strengths, it is also a weakness, as reading an Ethnic Studies analysis of a short story you've never read isn't that rewarding.

My biggest complaint about Ryan's text is that his analysis (of both literary texts and theories) has a very definite liberal social and political slant, to the point of being almost hostile to conservative viewpoints. I tend to be more liberal than not, so I'm clearly not upset that he's liberal or that he's expressing liberal views. However, while it is necessary to acknowledge that the ideal of objectivity in writing is a myth, if the writer of an educational text is going to allow his/her political and social views to be so present in the undercurrents of his/her text, I think he/she should state them outright in order to maintain credibility as a writer. If Ryan presented his bias earlier in his book, I would have been prepared for it and it wouldn't have been nearly as distracting.

So I guess I'm still searching for a book that introduces literary theory. Even though I've read quite a few books on literary theory, three of which were sold as "introductory," I always feel like, as soon as I'm a few paragraphs in, I'm knee-deep in crap I don't quite get. Maybe there just isn't an elementary, reader's digest theory book.

[Maggie Wynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read everything assigned from this textbook and honestly, each chapter was either a hit or miss. The writing was a tad confusing at times and the examples weren’t always incredible. I put it on Goodreads so I would actually be motivated to read it, which worked.

[Tess McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This certainly isn't an in depth look at every literary theory but it's a great starters guide and it provided plenty of examples and background information on multiple different literary theories.

[Reham Almutairi رهام المطيري · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book !

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

OMG. Hard.

I haven't read all the articles this anthology contains, but the ones I have read forced me to slow down and think. To re-read. To ponder.

I've kept the book, though, because I think it's an amazing resource for a graduate student in the English Language and Literature program.

[Samantha Teoste · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was assigned for a literary theory class and I became discouraged with it pretty quickly the first time around. If your looking for a good introduction to lit theory I recommend Hans Bertens ‘Literary Theory: the Basics’ over this one. After reading Bertens book going back to this one was helpful in further clarifying and relating theories.

In particular the ‘exercises’ where the theories are applied to popular texts using mostly the same texts for each theory, really helps understanding how to actually apply them in literary analysis. It is most certainly the highlight of the book. Unfortunately, lit theory is just something that is difficult to explain and there are no hard and fast rules for each theory really. So, though this book will probably leave you with as many questions as answers most texts on the subject will.

THE BAD: as with most text used in universities today this book is very left bias. Excruciatingly so at times. I definitely cringed on more than one occasion. I don’t think there was one chapter that didn’t inform me the ‘free market’ and ‘capitalism’ are evil and it outright says Libertarian ideals are “dubious.” Basically all non-leftist positions and ideas where surrounded with quotation marks and I could just picture the writer using air quotes and a sarcastic undermining tone to imply how absurd they believed them to be.

[Sara Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This may be my least favorite of texts that discuss the various approaches to literary theories. While I’m sure the author has a thorough understanding of the concepts, this book is not written in such a way as to entirely stand alone and guide or inform without outside references to discern his meaning. I can appreciate this effort but would not recommend it without a list of the internally referenced works to accompany for further/better understanding.

[Rebekah Byson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was interesting for going more in depth into certain theories. I did not like the format of asking questions about books or films with no context or example provided. If you are not familiar with several of the works described then it makes for jerky reading. The exercises could use more quotations.

[annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for school. Informative and helpful and assisted me a lot in understanding literary theory, but the author is extraordinarily bias, almost distractingly so???? (also super difficult to read because of how wordy it is sometimes)

[Carmilla Mayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dense, but exceptionally informative.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for non-academics and people fresh to Lit. Theory.

[TimetoFangirl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know this was a textbook and usually I just shrug those off with a "they are what they are," but this made me die a little bit inside. I'd give it a zero-star if that was a thing.

[Ashton Pacholski · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information is nice, yet the extrapolations within each theory of study are quite dissonant. This man loves his King Lear. Perhaps, a bit too much.

[Josh Peatfield]

If I have to read them for school I damn well better get credit for them in the reading challenge

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked two aspects of Ryan's Theory:

1. Its conversational style. It made for an easy read that exposed the core ideas of the different theories without any fuss.
2. Analyzing both literary works which belong to the canon and more low-brow forms of culture, like a rap song and movies.

But ultimately it fails as a textbook. It isn't very detailed and doesn't offer enough information about any of the theories. It works as a companion book to a more serious academic text, like Peter Barry's.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

it serves its purpose. it gives you the different kind of literary theory, background information, examples. but i've read different books on literary theory, different essays on how to use literary theory. and i think this couldve been better. there is a revised edition from this that i've been told goes more in depth so.

[Göran H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

He asks too many questions and does not give the answers. As a course book it is not great. I had to find many other sources to know how to answer the questions given. I would prefer if I could read the part on the theory and that it would be enough to understand how to answer the questions. Instead I had to find other sources.

[Sachin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely useful book for the students of theory