Ilse’s Reviews > Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction > Status Update
Ilse
is on page 28 of 144
'Literature' is an instutional label that gives us reason to expect that the results of our reading efforts will be 'worth it'. And many of the features of literature follow from the willingness of readers to pay attention, to explore uncertainties, and not immediately ask 'what do you mean by that?'
— Nov 15, 2025 05:19AM
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Ilse’s Previous Updates
Ilse
is on page 17 of 144
Theory is driven by the impossible desire to step outside your own thought, both to place it and to understand it, and also by a desire for change - this is a possible desire- both in the world your thought engages and in the ways of your own thought, which always could be sharper, more knowledgeable and capacious, more self-reflecting.
— Nov 04, 2025 12:20PM
Ilse
is on page 15 of 144
Theory is a source for constant upstagings: 'What! You haven't read Lacan! How can you talk about the lyric without addressing the specular constitution of the speaking subject? Or 'How can you write about the Victorian novel without using Foucault's account of the deployment of sexuality and the hysterization of women's bodies?'
— Oct 29, 2025 11:10AM
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Jennifer
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Nov 15, 2025 05:36AM
Love the highlight on relationship here, Ilse. It might be interesting for you to read Wired for Story, by Lisa Cron after this to compare lenses. And maybe I’ll read this one in the coming year…
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Who really decides which books deserve to be studied in schools? Who says what counts as literature and what doesn’t? I often wonder what truly makes a text literary?Thanks, Ilse.
I love the quote. The jury's is out on The Very Short introductions for me. Quite a lot of them felt poor, but there are occasional goodies. I will wait for your review on this one.
true, I think this is also easy to lose sight of where (no matter where you turn) there is so much emphasis on meaning.
Jennifer wrote: "Love the highlight on relationship here, Ilse. It might be interesting for you to read Wired for Story, by Lisa Cron after this to compare lenses. And maybe I’ll read this one in the coming year…"Jennifer, you have intrigued me on Lisa Cron's book (I read a couple quite mixed reviews on it), so you would recommend it? My partner remarked that I would have so enjoyed to study literature, and I think he is right...
Looking forward to reading your future observations on the essay, Ilse!
Maria wrote: "Who really decides which books deserve to be studied in schools? Who says what counts as literature and what doesn’t? I often wonder what truly makes a text literary?Thanks, Ilse."
Maria, how does that decision process go in Portugal? I was a little shocked that my children came home with a pile of five books that a publisher had selected, while their teacher admitted not to have read but put on the list anyway, not wanting to waste time on thinking for himself. The author points at certain features that might help to define what is literature, but admits its a puzzle that cannot entirely be solved :).
I don't think literary theory and school library reading lists are that connected. Certainly a literature course of study will require some kind of rigour behind it. But grappling with language would be a first consideration. Not just stories that highlight issues in vogue. But, those crazy religious zealots in the US banning school books probably haven't read much literary theory. But I should wait for your review Ilse I've jumped ahead...
