A Contemporary Guide to Literary Terms is a brief, inexpensive, and accessible handbook of literary terms for
a full range of courses, including introduction to literature, literature for composition, American literature,
British literature, and Shakespeare. In clear, concise, and user-friendly language, the text highlights its entries
with contemporary, multicultural examples. This edition features more terms and new entries for all periods of
literary history.
Additional features of the second edition include a new section on grammar and style and two new essays in
the "Strategies for Writing Essays about Literature" section (one comparing two texts and one comparing
a film and a text).
Clear, brief, reader-friendly entries, which don't assume extensive knowledge of literature, offer specific
quotations from texts and commentary on the examples.
Demonstrations of practical criticism illustrate literary terms, approaches, and theories and make individual
entries useful for classroom discussion. No other literary handbook or glossary performs this task or employs this
strategy.
Expanded examples with analyses are taken from a wide range of varied literary sources (both classic and contemporary)
and films. Entries are more informative and appealing than lists typically found in the appendices of introduction
to literature texts.
Useful pedagogical materials include sample student essays with annotations, background narratives on processes
of writing, advice for essay examinations, and guides to using MLA documentation and avoiding plagiarism.
Table of Contents
I. Glossary
II. Strategies for Writing Essays About Literature
Introduction
Background Narrative on "Mood and Images in Rita Dove's 'Silos'"
Choosing a Subject
Preparing to Write and Organizing Material
Drafting and Revising the Essay
Background Narrative on "Point of View and Irony in Chopin's 'The Story of an Hour'"
Selection of a Topic
Preliminary Work
Starting the Essay: Organization
Second Draft
Final Touches
Background Narrative on "The Cinderella Motif in Austen's Pride and Prejudice"
Selecting and Narrowing Down a Subject
Determining Credibility and Appropriateness of Secondary Sources
Choosing Organization Strategies
Refining the Introduction and Conclusion
Background Narrative on "Excursion into Neverland: The Importance of the Edenic
World in Peter and Wendy and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"
Choosing a Subject
Organizing the Comparative Essay
Writing the Essay
Background Narrative on "Love and Money in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility: A Comparison of Novel and
Film"
Choosing a Subject
Comparing a Film Version and the Original Text
Final Tips
Advice for Essay Examinations
Avoiding Plagiarism
A Brief Guide to Documenting Sources
Grammar, Punctuation, and Style
Index of Authors and Works
Index of Terms
Acknowledgements
