English Literature : Theory and Criticism

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Modernism and criticism. 3. Alliterative poetry in old and middle English. 4. The eighteenth century English literature. 5. The Middle English period 1150 to 1500. 6. Sermons and Histories in verse and prose. 7. The literature of fact. 8. Poetry and fiction 1918-1950. 9. Nature in English poetry of the Eighteenth century. Bibliography. Index.

Literary criticism is the study, evaluation and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals. The Western critical tradition began with Plato’s Republic (4th century BC). A generation later, Aristotle, in his poetics, developed a set of principles of composition that had a lasting influence.

This book is an essential reference guide for period scholarship because it examines English medieval literature comprehensively by genres. The text classifies early British literature by time and type using genres in an effort to significantly increase our understanding of textual meaning and historical context.