The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms [Paperback]

Ross C. Murfin (Author), Supryia M. Ray (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0312259107 | ISBN-13: 978-0312259105 | Publication Date: January 21, 2003 | Edition: Second Edition

This is the third edition of an essential glossary for students, now thoroughly updated and expanded with more than 50 new literary and critical terms. This title offers a comprehensive reference that clearly and accessibly defines over 850 important literary and critical terms from classical times to the present.It is thoroughly updated and expanded, with more than 50 new terms, including traditional terms, important contemporary terms and introductions to emerging fields of critical study. It features more contemporary examples, including references to movies, TV shows, and bestselling books, and includes new visual examples.This essential glossary presents clear, succinct, and lively definitions of over 850 literary and critical terms for today's student. Thoroughly updated and expanded, the third edition features more than 50 new terms, including traditional terms, important contemporary terms and introductions to emerging fields of critical study.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Bedford Glossary includes lengthy (and easy-to-follow) discussions of ideas including such biggies as cultural studies, deconstruction, feminist criticism, gender criticism, irony, Marxist criticism, the new historicism, poststructuralism, psychological criticism and psychoanalytic criticism, and reader-response criticism. More obscure terms--anagnorisis, epithalamium, Menippean satire, kenning--receive shorter but equally careful treatment. This is a clear and comprehensive reference for academics, intellectuals, and anyone else who wants to hold forth intelligently on subjects literary and critical. --Jane Steinberg --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Praise for the Bedford Glossary: 'An altogether splendid book...informed by a precise sense of what students need now.' - Patricia Meyers Spacks, University of Virginia, USA 'Compact, well-written, and smart, The Bedford Glossary is a resource that my students will and do use.' - James Brock, Florida Gulf Coast University, USA 'The Bedford Glossary brings terms to life for students.' - W. Jason Nelson, Bowling Green State University, USA 'An invaluable companion to students of literature at any level.' - Barry Milligan, Wright State University, USA 'An indispensable tool for literary study.' - J. Hillis Miller, University of California, Irvine, USA --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 539 pages
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's; Second Edition edition (January 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312259107
• ISBN-13: 978-0312259105
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #614,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars comprehensive and lucid, December 1, 1999

By 

Mohammed Raiyah - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms (Paperback)

This glossary is one of the best I have seen, combining both exhaustive and detailed enteries as well as a wide range of coverage. Literary periods from Old English to the Postmodern are discussed in detail - the article on postmodernism is almost six pages. Critical approaches such as structralism and postcolonialism are lucidly presented. Literary trends and tropes are explained with illustrative examples. Crossrefrencing is particularly very useful. All this makes this glossary a good study aid for both literary students and scholars.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Offers far more depth than its title suggests, June 1, 2003

By 

richardpinneau.com (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms (Paperback)

Yes, this is an excellent glossary of terms. It is also much more. Within these 420 pages, the authors have taken time and space to explore in depth the significance of varied approaches to literary analysis and scholarship.

The confusing and politicized nature of 20th Century literary criticism is served well in Murphin & Ray's clear and even-handed explication of various schools and styles. I think that new initiates to literary studies will appreciate the lengthy analyses given to critical schools/styles ( from aestheticism and close reading... to new historicism and 'theory' ). I find that this humbly titled "glossary" offers clearer and fairer insights into of these stormy academic seas that most books claiming "Intro to Criticism" in their titles.

This is a great reference volume for literature students. My only disappointment was the lack of references, and of suggestions for reading in more depth (other than in-passing mention of authors' names and occasional book titles), but that of course would have taken this volume further beyond the class of mere "glossary".

Still, in summary: indispensable - unsurpassed!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly handy, February 2, 2008

By 

John W. Komdat "jwkomdat" (Denver, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms (Paperback)

I bought this book to help me with a school project that involved identifying about fifty different literary devices in a novel. It offered thorough definitions and examples of everything I needed. I will cherish it as an English major.