Contents

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Preface ix
4. 1. Introduction: Th E Prehistory And Rise Of “Theory” 1
5. 2. Introduction Continued: Theory And Functionalization 12
6. First Reflections On Interpretation And Reading
7. 3. Ways In And Out Of The Hermeneutic Circle 27
8. 4. Configurative Reading 39
9. Text And Structure
10. 5. The Idea Of The Autonomous Artwork 55
11. 6. The New Criticism And Other Western Formalisms 68
12. 7. Russian Formalism 82
13. 8. Semiotics And Structuralism 95
14. 9. Linguistics And Literature 108
15. 10. Deconstruction I: Jacques Derrida 123
16. 11. Deconstruction II: Paul de Man 137
17. Author (Reader) And Psyche
18. 12. Freud And Fiction 153
19. 13. Jacques Lacan In Theory 166
20. 14. Influence 179
21. 15. The Postmodern Psyche 192
22. The Social Context
23. 16. The Social Permeability Of Reader And Text 207
24. 17. The Frankfurt School Of Critical Theory 220
25. 18. The Political Unconscious 233
26. 19. The New Historicism 246
27. 20. The Classical Feminist Tradition 259
28. 21. African American Criticism 272
29. 22. Postcolonial Criticism 285
30. 23. Queer Theory And Gender Performativity 299
31. 24. The Institutional Construction Of Literary Study 312
32. Theory Con And Pro
33. 25. The End Of Theory? Neo-Pragmatism 329
34. 26. Conclusion: Who Doesn’t Hate Theory Now? 342
35. Appendix: Passages Referenced In Lectures 355
36. Notes 363
37. The Varieties Of Interpretation: A Guide To Further Reading In Literary Theory 365
38. Index 379