Literary Analysis: The Basics is an insightful introduction to analysing a wide range of literary forms. Providing a clear outline of the methodologies employed in twenty-first century literary analysis, it introduces readers to the genres, canons, terms, issues, critical approaches, and contexts that affect the analysis of any text. It addresses such questions as: What counts as literature? Is analysis a dissection? How do gender, race, class and culture affect the meaning of a text? Why is the social and historical context of a text important? Can digital media be analysed in the same way as a poem? With examples from ancient myths to young adult fiction, a glossary of key terms, and suggestions for further reading, Literary Analysis: The Basics is essential reading for anyone wishing to improve their analytical reading skills.

This accessible guide provides the ideal first step in understanding literary theory.

The Handbook for Literary Analysis: How to Evaluate Prose Fiction, Drama, and Poetry reclaims the metaphor, rhetoric, and literary analysis. It has a high view of the reader, the critic, and the student. This Handbook explains and illustrates a wide range of significant literature. Readers explore inspired examples, including biblical examples. Finally, readers read real literary analytical essays by American high school students. "Dr. Stobaugh's Handbook is an outstanding resource for educators and the students. Over the past several decades, the influence of literature produced by Christians has significantly declined I highly recommend it." Ray Traylor, Homeschool Dad. "This book is appropriate for junior high students through adults." Cathy Duffy, homeschool review guru."

Providing the ideal first step in understanding the often bewildering world of literary theory, this text is an easy to follow and clearly presented introduction to this fascinating area.

Close reading is the most essential skill that literature students continue to develop across the full length of their studies. This book is the ideal guide to the practice, providing a methodology that can be used for poetry, novels, drama, and beyond. Using classic works of literature, such as Hamlet and The Great Gatsby as case studies, David Greenham presents a unique, contextual approach to close reading, while addressing key questions such as: What is close reading? What is the importance of the relationships between words? How can close reading enhance reading pleasure? Is there a method of close reading that works for all literary genres? How can close reading unlock complexity? How does the practice of close reading relate to other theoretical and critical approaches? Close Reading: The Basics is formulated to bring together reading pleasure and analytic techniques that will engage the student of literature and enhance their reading experience.

Providing the ideal first step in understanding the often bewildering world of literary theory, this text is an easy to follow and clearly presented introduction to this fascinating area.

‘Contemporary Literature’ is among the most popular areas of literary study but it can be a difficult one to define. This book equips readers with the necessary tools to take an analytical and systematic approach to contemporary texts. The author provides answers to some of the critical questions in the field: What makes a literary text contemporary? Is it possible to have a canon of contemporary literature? How does a reader’s location affect their understanding? How do print, electronic, and audio-visual media impact upon contemporary literature? Which key concepts and themes are most prevalent? Containing diverse illustrative examples and discussing the topics which define our current sense of the contemporary, this is an ideal starting point for anyone seeking to engage critically with contemporary literature.

Build confidence in a range of key literary analysis techniques and skills with this practical companion, full of advice and guidance from experienced experts. - Build analysis techniques and skills through a range of strategies, serving as a useful companion throughout the course - from critical-thinking, referencing and citation and the development of a line of inquiry to reflecting on the writing process and constructing essays for Paper 1 and Paper 2 - Develop skills in how to approach a text using literary analysis strategies and critical theory, for both unseen literary texts (the basis of Paper 1) and texts studied in class - Learn how to engage with texts so that you can write convincingly and passionately about literature through active reading, note-taking, asking questions, and developing a personal response to texts - Concise, clear explanations help students navigate the IB requirements, including advice on assessment objectives and how literary analysis weaves through Paper 1, Paper 2, the HL Essay, Individual Oral and the Learner Profile - Engaging activities are provided to test understanding of each topic and develop skills for the exam - guiding answers are available to check responses

This book provides a complete guide to analyzing literary works, from an introduction of basic principles to the finer details. Separated into three sections, the book covers: • Principles—this looks at what literary analysis is, its three main components, and the various possible objects of analysis. • Main components—introduces nearly 30 aspects of text analysis, such as style, themes, social aspects, and context, and then goes on to introduce nearly 50 approaches, such as literary history, ecocriticism, narratology, and sociology. • The process of analysis—details the general structure of the analytical text, the structure of a pedagogical essay, the analysis of a theoretical element, possible “plans” for the analytical text, methods of argumentation, statements of opinion, hypotheses, the structure of paragraphs, and the use of citations. This book is a synthesis of established scholarship with new, original insights, making it an ideal introduction to the study of literature as well as a valuable companion throughout further study.