Critical theory today: a user-friendly guide

"This thoroughly updated third edition of 'Critical Theory Today' offers an accessible introduction to contemporary critical theory, providing in-depth coverage of the most common approaches to literary analysis today, including: feminism; psychoanalysis; Marxism; reader-response theory; New Criticism; structuralism and semiotics; deconstruction; new historicism and cultural criticism; lesbian, gay, and queer theory; African American criticism and postcolonial criticism."--

1. Everything you wanted to know about critical theory but were afraid to ask -- 2. Psychoanalytic criticism -- The origins of the unconscious -- The defenses, anxiety, and core issues -- Dreams and dream symbols -- The meaning of sexuality -- Lacanian psychoanalysis -- Classical psychoanalysis and literature -- Some questions psychoanalytic critics ask about literary texts -- "What's love got to do with it?" : a psychoanalytic reading of The Great Gatsby -- Psychoanalytic approaches to other literary works -- 3. Marxist criticism -- The fundamental premises of Marxism -- The class system in America -- The role of ideology -- Human behavior, the commodity, and the family -- Marxism and literature -- Some questions Marxist critics ask about literary texts -- You are what you own : a Marxist reading of The Great Gatsby -- Marxist approaches to other literary works -- 4. Feminist criticism -- Traditional gender roles -- A summary of feminist premises -- Getting beyond patriarchy -- French feminism -- Multicultural feminism -- Gender studies and feminism -- Feminism and literature -- " ... next they'll throw everything overboard ..." : a feminist reading of The Great Gatsby -- Feminis…