The Complete Idiot's Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism

by Steven J. Venturino

Used in colleges and college-prep courses in the US, AS/A2 prep in the UK, and by interested readers and writers everywhere. Authoritative, genuinely helpful, and just funny enough. You'll see.

Literary interpretation can be a complex topic. This lively and entertaining guide takes the intimidation out of it, offering readers a scholarly yet easy-to-follow examination of literary theory's central arguments, key figures, and fascinating history. From Plato to ecocriticism, this helpful guide gives you everything you need to know to really understand literature--plus hundreds of references to novels, stories, poems, plays, and more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Literary Criticism, Literature, Writing, Criticism

336 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2013

Reviews

[Wero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Partly a refresher of things learned and mostly forgotten, partly an update on new developments .
Some chapters I will re-read, and this will lead me to dig deeper into some theories.
Reading this book helps not only understand literature, and the way literature functions in society, but also how society functions.
Well I probably re-read the whole book and this will lead to much enjoyment of all texts there are to read and different ways of reading them.
And it will increase my frustration as I will never be able to read all I want to read. Which is a good thing, what would life be like if there were nothing left to read?
Book-banners should read this. Instead of banning books, they would learn to read (in a different way).

[Roof Beam Reader (Adam) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Venturino's text (you'll get the joke, soon enough!) is an excellent introduction to Literary Theory & Criticism for those just beginning their foray (I'm thinking especially of new graduate students or, possibly, advanced undergraduates). It's also a great reference for those who are already familiar with literary theory/criticism but who may need reminders, refreshers, or help with connections of various types (across schools, historical relationships, etc).

That being said, this is probably not the place to go if you're completely unfamiliar with literary theory & criticism... perhaps the "Very Short Introduction" (Culler) or a MOOC (or, better yet, an actual course!) would be more appropriate. Still, if you're preparing to know, or beginning to know, or needing to know about all of this, it's going to be a helpful tool, I think.

I find the framing devices at the start and completion of each chapter particularly useful, and the chapters are bolstered by brief but significant, useful and appropriate asides, such as the "In Theory," "Apply It," and "Relations" sections.

Venturino's narrative voice is engaging and somehow compassionate - he understands this is tough stuff, overwhelming at times but, ultimately, a kind of play (even if some theorists/critics-who shall not be named-take it a bit too seriously).

At the very least, this is an excellent starting point that provides an overview of the "must knows" as well as suggestions for where to go to learn more, both of which are particularly useful for someone who might be familiar with literary theory in general, but not an expert in all fields (a feminist who might now be interested in ecocriticism, for example, or a structuralist who is diving into cultural studies).

I'm not familiar with "The Complete Idiot's Guide" series, but if this one is any indication of the typical quality/category of the collection, hooray, I say! I'm definitely willing to try another.

[judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that hits all the notes in as simple a way as possible. However, this is not Cliff's where you can skip the basic text. If this is to help you understand a theory class--it should help. If you're planning to use this to fill in for lectures you're not attending and assigned texts--good luck.

[Adnan Soysal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very happy to came across this book.
It is really entitled to be idiots' guide. :-)

It explains quiet complex subjects with clear, easy, and language.
Book has a 22 chapters of ideas, ideologies, concepts that had influenced literature.
Although linking their effects to literature was not always clear, it summaries these subjects wonderfully.
In that sense, it is also an idiots introduction to subjects like Romanticism, Marxism, Language, Freud, Deconstruction.
Book claims not only literature critics, but also authors should be knowing, and aware of them.
It will power them, enable them to have wider views of what they are dealing with.

[Banbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

The information in the book is well organized and provides structure (ha!) to otherwise diffuse concepts. I think every English major should read it, and, it could be enlightening for book clubs to read it as background. I wish there were more examples provided with some of the explanations (perhaps that is just laziness or an inability to understand on my part), and I got lost during the discussion on Deconstructionists (I have never been able to understand them; again, likely my failing).

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, I lied! I didn't finish this book, I got about 90% of the way there and had to return it to the library. I still want to give it 5 stars as it was a fantastic introduction to this topic and very easy to read and understand on a basic level. I am currently learning the concepts in more depth and this was a great starting point before diving in to the challenging texts.

[Sunil Nair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilarious! Loved it! Wish every academic textbook read like this!

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok guide to Literary Theory, the best part is the explanation of each critical theory and how to apply it. I skimmed most of the book but that part was invaluable.

[Zamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice entryway to the theory. Very structured, introduces many names and theories for further exploration.

[• Domeniko • · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.95

[Kashvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute banger I talk about this book a lot

[Becky Robison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steven J. Venturino was my undergraduate literary theory professor. Everything that was great about his class is replicated in this book. It's comprehensive, easy to understand, and funny. I'm taking my first graduate level theory class this semester, so I read this to review all the concepts I'd learned in his class in 2009. I highly recommend it!

[Danya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a avid reader with an engineering background who wants to get more out of my reading than enjoyment in a good story. This book seems like a good introduction to the various forms of literary appreciation and theory. We will see if it leads to more literary study and reading enjoyment

[Shishir · Rating 1 out of 5]

For an idiots guide it seemed heavy and too broadly focused especially considering its title. Many instances of academic jargon (name dropping) which neither impressed nor inspired

[Megan Yaek · Rating 4 out of 5]

It got me where I needed to be.
Now I need more.