Analysing Texts
17 total works
Daniel Defoe's writings have bred controversy since their first appearance in the eighteenth century: 'Robinson Crusoe' fuels virulent disagreements among critics, while Defoe's two scandalous women, 'Moll Flanders' and 'Roxana', can still shock us and challenge the range of our sympathies.
This essential study:
- Takes a fresh look at these intriguing novels and leads the reader into close analysis of Defoe's texts, encouraging an open-minded approach to interpretation
- Features chapters on the novels' openings, conscience and repentance, society and economics, women and patriarchy, and the use of 'outsider' narrators
- Provides useful sections on 'Methods of Analysis' and 'Suggested Work' to aid independent study
- Offers historical and literary background, a sample of critical views, and suggestions for further reading
Equipping students with the critical and analytical skills with which to approach Defoe's work, this inspiring guide helps readers to appreciate the brilliance of the author's writing and to enjoy the complexity of his fictional creations for themselves.
This essential study:
- Takes a fresh look at these intriguing novels and leads the reader into close analysis of Defoe's texts, encouraging an open-minded approach to interpretation
- Features chapters on the novels' openings, conscience and repentance, society and economics, women and patriarchy, and the use of 'outsider' narrators
- Provides useful sections on 'Methods of Analysis' and 'Suggested Work' to aid independent study
- Offers historical and literary background, a sample of critical views, and suggestions for further reading
Equipping students with the critical and analytical skills with which to approach Defoe's work, this inspiring guide helps readers to appreciate the brilliance of the author's writing and to enjoy the complexity of his fictional creations for themselves.
This text takes extracts and examines "Pride and Prejudice", "Emma", "Mansfield Park" and "Persuasion" in close detail, bringing out the irony and implication in Jane Austen's writing. Using the tool of textual analysis, the book aims to teach the reader to explore the comedy of her narratives, and to inquire into the serious moral purpose that lies behind each of these four novels. This work is for A Level and first-year undergraduate students of English Literature and courses in the novel.
Widely thought of as Shakespeare's most powerful works, this book takes extracts and examines the four great tragedies, "Hamlet", "King Lear", "Othello" and "Macbeth", explaining how the critic can use particular techniques to bring out complexities of meaning, understand the patterns of metaphor and the rhythms of the poetry and appreciate the drama. Chapters on the openings and endings of plays, heroes and heroines, society, humour, imagery and the tragic universe guide the student on a journey of inquiry into the nature of Shakespeare's tragic vision. The book is for A Level and undergraduate students of English Literature; and courses in Shakespeare, Tragedy, Renaissance Literature and Drama.
Willaim Blake's illuminated poems and prophecies were ignored in his own time. Now, however, the Songs of Innocence and Experience is an established collection of lyrics, and Blake's extraordinary 'prophetic books' are widely admired and studied. The first part of this book leads the reader into the Songs of Innocence and Experience via detailed analysis of individual poems and an informative discussion of the designs on Blake's illuminated plates. The analyses feed further exploration of Blake's work and lead on to readings of extracts from the 'prophetic books'. Marsh encourages a focus on the power and beauty of Blake's poetry, as well as the audacity of his ideas. Part Two provides the background information you need as a student of Blake. There is an account of his life, and a discusssion of his place as a contemporary of the Romantic English poets, together with an overview of criticism of his work. This book does not side-step the complexity of his works: it challenges you to enjoy reading and exploring Blake's poems and ideas for yourself, and its explanations and advice encourage you to approach these great works with a feeling of confident excitement.
Chapters on the narrative frame, characters, imagery and symbols, structure and themes use practical analysis to build and refine our insight into Wuthering Heights. Part Two gives information about Emily Bronte's life and works, a discussion of this novel's place in the development of fiction and a comparison of three important critical views. Suggestions for further reading, fully explained examples of analysis and suggestions for further work make this volume both accessible and a bridge to further study.
Thought of as Shakespeare's most powerful works, the four great tragedies, Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and Macbeth, are texts of unparalleled richness and depth, stimulating and exciting to study. This book takes extracts and examines them, explaining how the critic can use particular techniques to bring out complexities of meaning, understand the patterns of metaphor and the rhythms of the poetry and appreciate the ever-living drama. Chapters on the openings and endings of plays, heroes and heroines, society, humour, imagery and the tragic universe guide the student on a journey of inquiry into the nature of Shakespeare's tragic vision. Far from simplifying Shakespeare, the reader is challenged to confront the depth and subtlety of the dramas, and to enjoy the analytical pursuit of ever finer insight, ever fuller understanding.
At the beginning of this century, Virginia Woolf reacted against literary tradition, sought a new definition of fiction, applied her modern, post-freudian outlook and radically feminist ideas to the problem of writing novels and, in so doing, re-defined our concept of this literary form. The results can be seen in Mrs Dalloway, To The Lighthouse and The Waves, three novels of a flowing, impressionistic texture that are, at the same time, highly structured. Through detailed analysis of selected extracts from the novels, the reader is taught to explore the delicate and yet rich writing Woolf achieved and to inquire into the significance of her ironies and symbolic structures. This guide does not sidestep the complexity of her works, but challenges the reader to confront, examine and enjoy it.
Jane Austen's novels are among the most polished and carefully-crafted works in the English literary heritage. This book takes extracts and examines them in close detail, bringing out the extraordinary richness of irony and implication in Jane Austen's writing. Using the tool of textual analysis, the reader is taught to explore and enjoy the delicate comedy of her narratives, and to inquire into the serious moral purpose that lies behind each of these four novels. This guide does not simplify the study of Jane Austen, but invites the reader to pursue and revel in the ironic subtlety of her methods and thought.
This study focuses on how Frankenstein works: how the story is told and why it is so rich and gripping. Part I uses carefully selected short extracts for close textual analysis, while Part II examines Shelley's life, the historical and literary contexts of the novel, and offers a sample of key criticism.
William Blake was ignored in his own time. Now, however, his Songs of Innocence and Experience and 'prophetic books' are widely admired and studied.
The second edition of this successful introductory text:
- Leads the reader into the Songs and 'prophetic books' via detailed analysis of individual poems and extracts, and now features additional insightful analyses
- Provides useful sections on 'Methods of Analysis' and 'Suggested Work' to aid independent study
- Offers expanded historical and cultural context, and an extended sample of critical views that includes discussion of the work of recent critics
- Provides up-to-date suggestions for further reading
William Blake: The Poems is ideal for students who are encountering the work of this major English poet for the first time. Nicholas Marsh encourages you to enjoy and explore the power and beauty of Blake's poems for yourself.
The second edition of this successful introductory text:
- Leads the reader into the Songs and 'prophetic books' via detailed analysis of individual poems and extracts, and now features additional insightful analyses
- Provides useful sections on 'Methods of Analysis' and 'Suggested Work' to aid independent study
- Offers expanded historical and cultural context, and an extended sample of critical views that includes discussion of the work of recent critics
- Provides up-to-date suggestions for further reading
William Blake: The Poems is ideal for students who are encountering the work of this major English poet for the first time. Nicholas Marsh encourages you to enjoy and explore the power and beauty of Blake's poems for yourself.
Opening chapters in this book on the narrative frame, characters, imagery and symbols, structure and themes use practical analysis to build and refine our insight into "Wuthering Heights". It goes on to give information about Emily Bronte's life and works, a discussion of this novel's place in the development of fiction, and a comparison of three important critical views.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Virginia Woolf reacted against literary tradition, sought a new definition of fiction, applied her modern, post-Freudian outlook and radically feminist ideas to the problem of writing novels and, in so doing, helped re-define our concept of this literary form. The results can be seen in "Mrs Dalloway", "To the Lighthouse" and "The Waves", three novels of a flowing, impressionistic texture that are, at the same time, highly structured. Through detailed analysis of selected extracts from the novels, the text aims to teach the reader to explore Woolf's writing and to inquire into the significance of her ironies and symbolic structures. This title is for A Level and first-year undergraduate students of English Literature; those on courses in 20th-century literature, language and narrative, and the novel.
Written in 1602-4, between Hamlet and the other great tragedies, Shakespeare's three Problem Plays are so called because they do not fit easily into the other groups of plays. They are awkward dramas, full of unresolved controversies, which leave audiences and readers unsettled by contradictory responses.
Nicholas Marsh uses close analysis of extracts from the plays to explore how Shakespeare maintains competing discourses within a single text. In the first part of his study, Marsh highlights the multiple interpretations these plays provoke and provides useful sections on methods of analysis to encourage readers to develop their views independently. The second part of the book discusses the Problem Plays in relation to the playwright's other works, and examines their cultural and historical contexts. A comparison of five modern critical views and helpful suggestions for further reading provide a bridge to continuing study. In this essential guide to a complex set of plays, Marsh does not seek to reconcile the thorny issues these dramas leave open: rather, he equips the reader with the necessary critical tools to fashion their own synthesis.
Nicholas Marsh uses close analysis of extracts from the plays to explore how Shakespeare maintains competing discourses within a single text. In the first part of his study, Marsh highlights the multiple interpretations these plays provoke and provides useful sections on methods of analysis to encourage readers to develop their views independently. The second part of the book discusses the Problem Plays in relation to the playwright's other works, and examines their cultural and historical contexts. A comparison of five modern critical views and helpful suggestions for further reading provide a bridge to continuing study. In this essential guide to a complex set of plays, Marsh does not seek to reconcile the thorny issues these dramas leave open: rather, he equips the reader with the necessary critical tools to fashion their own synthesis.
This volume focuses on three widely-studied novels: Sons and Lovers, The Rainbow and Women in Love. Chapters on narrative texture, impulse and emotion in Lawrence's characters, the quest for a male-female relationship, class and society, and imagery, symbols and structures, use practical analysis to build and refine our insight into the novels as well as equipping the readers with techniques and approaches which enable them to continue studying Lawrence independently. Suggestions for further reading, fully explained examples of analysis and suggestions for further work, make this volume both accessible and a bridge to further study.
Controversy rages around Larkin's character and life. This book takes a fresh look at his poems through close analysis, discussion of Larkin's major concerns and demonstrating how to approach these enigmatic works. It provides background information including an account of his life, discussion of cultural context and major critical views
This stimulating study takes a fresh look at two of Dickens' most widely-studied texts. Part I uses carefully selected short extracts for close textual analysis, while Part II examines the historical and literary contexts and key criticism. The volume is an ideal introductory guide for those who are studying Dickens' novels for the first time.