A Critical History of English Literature

Contents: Preface. 1. A history of English literature. 2. The new criticism after fifty years: a memoir. 3. English literature as ideology. 4. Poetics and literary criticism. 5. The contemporary literary theory and criticism. 6. Freudian psychoanalytical criticism. 7. The rhetoric of literary criticism. 8. The use of Kennings in Anglo-Saxon literature. 9. Middle English literature.  10. Comparative literature and the illusion of multiculturalism. 11. An approach to teaching the writing of literature. 12. Eco critical approaches to Indian literature. 13. Feminist literary criticism. 14. Approaches to middle English literature in 21st century. 15. Scottish literature and the uses of postcolonial theory. Bibliography. Index.

The story of English literature begins with the Germanic tradition of the Anglo Saxon settlers. Beowulf stands at its head. This epic poem of the 8th century is in Anglo Saxon now more usually described as Old English. It is incomprehensible to a reader familiar only with modern English. Even so there is a continuous linguistic development between the two. The most significant turning point from about 1100 is the development of Middle English differing from Old English in the addition of a French vocabulary after the Norman conquest. French and Germanic influences subsequently complete for the mainstream role in English literature. (jacket)