Customer Reviews

A Glossary of Literary Terms

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Every student of literature should have their own copy of this book. Non-students would get a lot out of this too. And while the price might appear excessive, I think in the long-term this book is a worthwhile investment. What makes this guide of literary terms different from others, is its comprehensiveness. Abrams goes into great detail on the important terms that one comes across most often in literature. There is information on theories and movements in criticism and terms such as modernism and post modernism, are clearly defined. there is also material on symbolism, metaphor and other figures of speech and so on. A Glossary of Literary Terms, now in its 8th edition, is written in a lucid style, and is a must buy for anyone who wants to expand their literary horizons. Recommended. 5 stars.

I've used the 6th edition of this book for my research and own person edification for almost 5 years now. Abrams writes in a clear, understandable style that manages to enlight rather than confuse the reader. I've used other books like this one and they either give too little information or so much information that the reader is overwhelmed. Abrams manages to strike a perfect balance that gives you enough info to allow to be familiar with a topic and he offers suggestions for further reading if you want to know more.

This book is essential for any English major or graduate student.

There is nothing in this book that is not in any other literary terms book. However, it's the quality, not quantity (isn't that what they always say? Well, it's true this time). The way that terms are defined makes sense to everyone, not just the avid writer or reader of literature.

For example, look up 'Heroic Couplets' elsewhere and you'll find broad, vague definitions with little or no description. Well, think again when it comes to Mr. Abrams version of interpretation. Also, the way the book is structured is clever in itself. When looking up one definition, it leads to other words that are unknown, thus making full use of the book.

If you have any desire to write or just want a better understanding of what terms are being thrown at you in text, consult this gem. If you don't agree, contact me and I'll refund your money (okay, that was a joke). Wise investment.

Whether you are a student of literature or just looking to expand your understanding of it, you'll find this comprehensive yet accessible reference extremely useful. Abrams has compiled a fairly exhaustive glossary of (Western) literary terms. His succinct explanations are reinforced by familiar examples. When necessary, he also provides historical background to a word or phrase. Cross-referenced terms are highlighted within the descriptions, and the book includes an index of authors and of terms. This is a very easy reference to use, concise in its definitions, thorough in its content, and overall, well organized.

In contrast to other dictionaries or encyclopedias whose cramped style is barely readable, this Glossary of Literary Terms is a book to enjoy. There are little essays on all major literary terms; those which can only be understood in their context are included in essays of a different heading (e.g. "Bildungsroman" is one of the terms which are explained in the essay about the "novel"). At first sight this may seem a bit complicated, but in the long run it is a lot more efficient than the usual dictionary-style presentation.

Of course an advanced student of literature may sometimes miss some details - but those are details nobody would remember anyway. Mr Abrams only gives you the facts you really want to know and memorize. And he does this in a style of remarkable clarity and fluency. While this proves him to be a member of an old school of lit crit, the Glossary contains good introducitons to recent trends as well (postcolonial studies, gay and lesbian literature etc.)

I am thankful that I didn't have to study literature without Abrams' Glossary!

This is a very well-researched encyclopedia covering almost any literary term that comes to mind. Try it, look up the term as if using a dictionary and one finds a clearly written paragraph, if not essay, that explains it all. It also provides links that can point the reader in different directions. In the event of literary jargon overload, there is no better treatment currently available.

As a student, this is an essential reference for me, but it is also something that I would want to keep forever as I think it would be very difficult to find such a useful, interesting and intellectually credible/incredible guide to literary terms. As a future teacher I look forward to using this book for many years to come.

Abrams supplies very nicely written explanations of many terms you are likely to come across in literature, or more specifically, in literary studies. If you have puzzled over an "objective correlative", then he explains that it wasn't due to TS Eliot, as many believe, but to Allston. Though Eliot was the one responsible for popularising the term. Or, if you want to use "doggerel" properly when deconstructing some Bukowski poem, perhaps check Abrams first.

M.H . Abrams was one of the great literary critics of Romanticism. This glossary of Literary Terms is written clearly and elegantly. It defines major terms, major movements in Literary History, provides excellent examples. Though there are by this time a number of other fine works of this kind, this remains an outstanding one.

It collects 1-1.5 page of literature on each literary term. Besides the definition, it also provides the author's perception on the movements or literature related to the term.Examples of quotes and related terms are available in the explanation.It not only gives a spatial explanation of the term, but also its temporial historic evolution . Yet, the two oustanding weaknesses of the book are:1)it's a glossary but a dictionary(you might not be able to find the term you are looking for);you might have to read the whole explanation before you totally understand what the term means.

This book, in its various editions, has been an almost constant companion since I first encountered it in my MA program. Being able to take it with me meant, in the past, having multiple copies left at my various places of work, study, and play. Now, with the Kindle edition, I have it and most of my literary reference library with me all at once and everywhere I go.

My only complaint, if it can be said to be a complaint, is that the full capabilities of a digital edition have not been exploited, as they were--for instance--in the Routledge Encyclopedia of Narrative Theory. That is, there are no internal hyperlinks from article to article based on crucial terms (bolded or italicized in the text). That attribute, so easy to provide these days, would make the text a perfect 5 in my assessment. For now, I get around this one problem by using the search function.

Still, I consider this new Kindle edition a wonderful resource and would recommend it to anyone interested in or involved with Literary Studies.