Extensively tested at the University of Edinburgh, this introduction to the tools required for literary study provides all the skills, background and critical knowledge which students require to approach their study of literature with confidence.

Table of Contents

• Preface to the Second Edition
• Section I - Introductory
• 1 What is Literature? - Alex Thomson
• 2 English Literary Studies: Origins and Nature - Robert Irvine
• 3 Kinds of Literature - David Salter
• Section II - Poetry
• 4 Poetry: An Introduction - Alan Gillis
• 5 Metre and Rhythm - Lee Spinks
• 6 Verse Forms - Penny Fielding
• 7 Poetic Imagery - Sarah M. Dunnigan
• 8 Poetry and History - Greg Walker
• 9 Vernacular Poetry - Colin Nicholson
• Section III - Narrative
• 10 Genre and Form: The Short Story - Kenneth Millard
• 11 Narrative Language - Keith Hughes
• 12 Narrative Structure and Technique - Randall Stevenson
• 13 Constructing Character - Rajorshi Chakraborti
• 14 Narrative, Society and History - Aaron Kelly
• 15 Life Writing - Laura Marcus
• Section IV - Drama
• 16 Introducing Drama - Roger Savage
• 17 Text and Performance - Olga Taxidou
• 18 Tragedy - Simon Malpas
• 19 Comedy - Jonathan Wild
• 20 History and Politics - Dermot Cavanagh
• 21 Sex, Gender and Performance - Suzanne Trill
• Section V - Reading, Writing, Reflecting
• 22 Reading - Anna Vaninskaya
• 23 Writing an Essay - David Farrier
• 24 Reflecting - Paul Crosthwaite
• Works Cited
• Notes on Contributors