Explaining both why theory is important and how to use it, Lois Tyson introduces beginning students of literature to this often daunting field in a friendly and readable style. The new edition of this textbook is clearly structured with chapters based on major theories frequently covered both in courses on literature and on critical theory.
Key features include:
• coverage of major theories including reader-response theory, New Criticism (formalism), psychoanalysis, Marxism, feminism, lesbian/gay/queer theories, African American theory, and postcolonial theory
• practical demonstrations of how to use these theories to interpret short literary works selected from canonical authors including William Faulkner and Alice Walker
• a chapter on reader-response theory that shows students how to use their personal responses to literature while avoiding typical pitfalls
• sections on cultural criticism for each chapter that use our selected theories to interpret productions of popular culture.
• sections on environmental issues (ecocriticism) for introductory and closing chapters as well as for chapters on psychoanalysis, Marxism, feminism, lesbian/gay/queer theories, African American theory, and postcolonial theory.
This new edition also includes updated and expanded theoretical vocabulary, “basic concepts” and “further study” sections, and an expanded “next-step” appendix that suggests additional literary works for extra practice. Comprehensive, easy to use, and fully updated throughout, Using Critical Theory is the ideal first step for students beginning degrees in literature, composition, and cultural studies.
Lois Tyson introduces beginning students of literature to this often daunting field in a friendly and readable style. The new edition of this textbook is clearly structured with chapters based on major theories frequently covered both in courses on literature and on critical theory.
1 Critical theory, cultural criticism, and the environment
What is critical theory, and what does it have to do with me?
Critical theory and cultural criticism
Critical theory and the environment
The basic principles of ecocriticism
An ecocritical reading of I started EarlyTook my Dog
An ecocritical reading of A White Heron
An ecocritical reading of Some keep the Sabbath going to Church
Three questions about interpretation most students ask
My interpretation is my opinion, so how can it be wrong?
Do authos deliberately use concepts from critical theories when they write
literary works?
How can we interpret a literary work without knowing what the author
intended the work to mean?
Why feeling confused can be a good sign
Suggestions for further study
2 Using concepts from reader-response theory to understand our own literary
interpretations
Why should we learn about reader-response theory?
Response vehicles
Identification-with-a-character
The familiar character
The familiar plot event
The familiar setting
Response exercise
Identification-with-a-character exercise
Familiar-character exercise
Familiar-plot-event exercise
How our personal responses can help or hinder interpretation
The "symbolic leap"
The difference between representing and endorsing human behavior
Using our personal responses to generate paper topics
Food for further thought
Thinking it over
Reader-response theory and cultural criticism
Taking the next step
Questions for further practice
Suggestions for further study
3 Using concepts from New Critical theory to understand literature
Why should we learn about New Critical theory?
Basic concepts
Theme
Formal elements
Unity
Close reading and textual evidence
Interpretation exercises
Appreciating the importance of tradition: Interpreting Everyday Use
Recognizing the presence of death: Interpreting A Rose for Emily
Understanding the power of alienation: Interpreting The Battle Royal
Respecting the importance of nonconformity: Interpreting Dont Explain
Responding to the challenge of the unknown: Interpreting I started
EarlyTook my Dog
Food for further thought
Thinking it over
The limitations of New Critical theory for cultural criticism
Taking the next step
Questions for further practice
Suggestions for further study
4 Using concepts from psychoanalytic theory to understand literature
Why should we learn about psychoanalytic theory?
Basic concepts
The family
Repression and the unconscious
The defenses
Core issues
The meaning of death
The meaning of sexuality
Superego, id, ego
Dream symbolism
Interpretation exercises
Analyzing characters dysfunctional behavior: Interpreting Everyday Use
Exploring a characters insanity: Interpreting A Rose for Emily
Understanding dream images in literature: Interpreting I started EarlyTook
my Dog
Recognizing a characters self-healing: Interpreting Dont Explain
Using psychoanalytic concepts in service of other theories: Interpreting
The Battle Royal
Food for further thought
Thinking it over
Psychoanalytic theory and cultural criticism
A cultural analysis of Pretty Woman from a psychoanalytic perspective
Taking the next step
Questions for further practice
Suggestions for further study
5 Using concepts from Marxist theory to understand literature
Why should we learn about Marxist theory?
Basic concepts
Classism
Capitalism
Competition
Commodification
The American Dream
Rugged individualism
Consumerism
The role of religion
Interpretation exercises
Understanding the operations of capitalism: Interpreting Everyday Use
Recognizing the operations of the American Dream: Interpreting The Battle
Royal
Analyzing the operations of classism: InterpretingA Rose for Emily
Resisting classism: Interpreting Dont Explain
Learning when not to use Marxist concepts: Resisting the temptation to
interpret I started EarlyTook my Dog
Food for further thought
Thinking it over
Marxist theory and cultural criticism
Taking the next step
Questions for further practice
Suggestions for further study
6 Using concepts from feminist theory to understand literature
Why should we learn about feminist theory?
Basic concepts
Patriarchy
Traditional gender roles
The cult of true womanhood
The objectification of women: good girls and bad girls
Sexism
Everyday sexism
Phallocentrism and phallogocentrism
Intersectionality
White feminism
Multicultural feminism
The four waves of feminism
Interpretation exercises
Rejecting the objectification of women: Interpreting The Battle Royal
Resisting patriarchal ideology: Interpreting Dont Explain
Recognizing a conflicted attitude toward patriarchy: Interpreting Everyday
Use
Analyzing a sexist text: Interpreting A Rose for Emily
Understanding patriarchys psychological oppression of women: Interpreting
I started EarlyTook my Dog
Food for further thought
Thinking it over
Feminist theory and cultural criticism
Feminist theory and the environment
Taking the next step
Questions for further practice
Suggestions for further study
7 Using concepts from lesbian, gay, and queer theories to understand
literature
Why should we learn about lesbian, gay, and queer theories?
Basic concepts
Heteronormativity
Heterosexism and heteropatriarchy
Homophobia and lesbophobia
Bisexual people, monosexism, and biphobia
Nonbinary people
Transgender people and the prefix cis
Transphobia
Queerphobia
Homosocial bonding
The woman-identified woman
Homoerotic imagery
Queer theory
Interpretation exercises
Rejecting lesbian stereotypes: Interpreting Dont Explain
Analyzing homophobia: Interpreting The Battle Royal
Recognizing the woman-identified woman in a heterosexual text: Interpreting
Everyday Use
Using queer theory: Interpreting A Rose for Emily
Drawing upon context: Interpreting I started EarlyTook my Dog
Food for further thought
Thinking it over
Lesbian, gay, and queer theories and cultural criticism
Queer theory and the environment
Taking the next step
Questions for further practice
Suggestions for further study
8 Using concepts from African American theory to understand literature
Why should we learn about African American theory?
Basic concepts
African American culture and the African American literary tradition
Racism
Institutionalized racism (systemic racism)
Environmental racism
Everyday racism (casual racism)
Internalized racism
Intraracial racism (colorism)
White privilege
Double consciousness
Interpretation exercises
Analyzing the overt operations of institutionalized racism: Interpreting
The Battle Royal
Recognizing the less visible operations of institutionalized racism:
Interpreting Dont Explain
Understanding the operations of internalized racism: Interpreting Everyday
Use
Exploring the function of black characters in white literature: Interpreting
A Rose for Emily
Learning when not to use African American concepts: Resisting the temptation
to interpret I started EarlyTook my Dog
Food for further thought
Thinking it over
African American theory and cultural criticism
African American theory and the environment
Taking the next step
Questions for further practice
Suggestions for further study
9 Using concepts from postcolonial theory to understand literature
Why should we learn about postcolonial theory?
Basic concepts
Colonialist ideology
Othering
Subalterns
The dominant culture
The colonial subject
Mimicry
Unhomeliness
Hybridity
Anticolonialist resistance
Interpretation exercises
Understanding colonialist ideology: Interpreting The Battle Royal
Analyzing the colonial subject: Interpreting Everyday Use
Exploring the influence of cultural stereotypes: Interpreting A Rose for
Emily
Appreciating anticolonialist resistance: Interpreting Dont Explain
Recognizing the othering of nature: Interpreting I started EarlyTook my
Dog
Food for further thought
Thinking it over
Postcolonial theory and cultural criticism
Postcolonial theory and the environment
Taking the next step
Questions for further practice
Suggestions for further study
10 Holding on to what youve learned
A shorthand overview of our critical theories
A shorthand overview of our literary interpretation exercises
Everyday Use
The Battle Royal
A Rose for Emily
Dont Explain
I started EarlyTook my Dog
A shorthand overview of our sample readings
Pretty Woman
Waiting to Exhale
Philadelphia
Opies Girlfriend
The Brother of the Bride
A White Heron
Some keep the Sabbath going to Church
I started EarlyTook my Dog
Queer Earth
Greeting from the Moon, the Sacrificial Side
Map
A shorthand overview of the range of perspectives offered by each theory
Reader-response concepts
New Critical concepts
Psychoanalytic concepts
Marxist concepts
Feminist concepts
Lesbian, gay, and queer concepts
African American concepts
Postcolonial concepts
Critical theory and cultural criticism revisited
Television game shows
A situation comedy
Critical theory and the environment revisited
Critical theory and an ethics for a diverse world
Appendix A: I started EarlyTook my Dog (Emily Dickinson, c. 1862)
Appendix B: A White Heron (Sarah Orne Jewett, 1886)
Appendix C: A Rose for Emily (William Faulkner, 1931)
Appendix D: The Battle Royal (Ralph Ellison, 1952)
Appendix E: Everyday Use (Alice Walker, 1973)
Appendix F: Dont Explain (Jewelle Gomez, 1987)
Appendix G: Additional literary works for further practice
Index
Lois Tyson is Professor Emerita of English at Grand Valley State University, USA. She is the author of Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide (4th edition, 2023).
