Studying English Literature and Language

This handbook designed specifically to support students and teachers of English language, literature and culture by combining the functions of study guide, critical dictionary and text anthology.

Studying English Literature and Language is unique in offering both an introduction and a companion for students taking English Literature and Language degrees. Combining the functions of study guide, critical dictionary and text anthology, this is a freshly recast version of the highly acclaimed The English Studies Book.

This third edition features:

• fresh sections on the essential skills and study strategies needed to complete a degree in English-from close reading, research and referencing to full guidelines and tips on essay-writing, participating in seminars, presentations and revision

• an authoritative guide to the life skills, further study options and career pathways open to graduates of the subject

• updated introductions to the major theoretical positions and approaches taken by scholars in the field, from earlier twentieth century practical criticism to the latest global and ecological perspectives

• extensive entries on key terms such as 'author, 'genre', 'narrative' and 'translation' widely current in debates across language, literature and culture

• coverage of both local and global varieties of the English language in a range of media and discourses, including news, advertising, text messaging, rap, pop and street art

• an expansive anthology representing genres and discourses from early elegy and novel to contemporary performance, flash fiction, including writers as diverse as Aphra Behn, Emily Dickinson, J.M. Coetzee, Angela Carter, Russell Hoban, Adrienne Rich and Arundhati Roy

• a comprehensive, regularly updated companion website supplying further information and activities, sample analyses and a wealth of stimulating and reliable links to further online resources.

Studying English Literature and Language is a wide-ranging and invaluable reference for anyone interested in the study of English language, literature and culture.

"This splendid book is at once primer and provocation.Rarely does a companion for English Studies manage to connect the investigation of language and literature so closely to a student's imaginative and practical needs" Jerome McGann, University of Virginia, USA "Rob Pope's Studying English is an impressively wide-ranging textbook that effortlessly covers such topics as the historical, social, and cultural dimensions of the English language, the principles of close reading, the intricacies of literary theory, and much, much more, while along the way it makes its readers familiar with the taking of notes, with preparing a bibliography, even with the pitfalls of job interviews and writing applications. All of this is wonderfully supported by a choice of excerpts and texts that is equally generous and varied, ranging from the canonical to real life conversations and beer commercials. Studying English is critical, creative, and enjoyable - the conditions, as Pope himself notes, for genuine learning - but it is also, and perhaps even more importantly, as interactive as a textbook could possibly be. Rob Pope casts a very wide net and his - and our - reward is an amazing catch." Hans Bertens, The University of Utrecht, The Netherlands "Rob Pope provides a pathway between the claims and counterclaims that have been made about subject English. He shows that the differences between scholars within the field are a source of its vitality and its capacity to renew itself. This book provides an invaluable resource for students in undergraduate and teacher education programs. It is also a useful reminder to English teachers at secondary and tertiary levels of the richness, complexity and importance of their work." Brenton Doecke, Deakin University, Australia "I am delighted that there is a new edition of this wonderful, well-thought out and superbly useful book. It is as it was, clear, up-to-date and ideal for students and teachers of English" Robert Eaglestone, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK Praise for the Second Edition "This is without question the very best text available for the new "gateway" (introductory) courses to the English major." David Stacey, Humboldt State University, USA

Autorentext
Rob Pope is Professor of English Studies at Oxford Brookes University and a National Teaching Fellow.

Klappentext

Studying English Literature and Language is unique in offering both an introduction and a companion for students taking English Literature and Language degrees. Combining the functions of study guide, critical dictionary and text anthology, this is a freshly recast version of the highly acclaimed The English Studies Book. This third edition features: fresh sections on the essential skills and study strategies needed to complete a degree in English-from close reading, research and referencing to full guidelines and tips on essay-writing, participating in seminars, presentations and revision an authoritative guide to the life skills, further study options and career pathways open to graduates of the subject updated introductions to the major theoretical positions and approaches taken by scholars in the field, from earlier twentieth century practical criticism to the latest global and ecological perspectives extensive entries on key terms such as 'author, 'genre', 'narrative' and 'translation' widely current in debates across language, literature and culture coverage of both local and global varieties of the English language in a range of media and discourses, including news, advertising, text messaging, rap, pop and street art an expansive anthology representing genres and discourses from early elegy and novel to contemporary performance, flash fiction, including writers as diverse as Aphra Behn, Emily Dickinson, J.M. Coetzee, Angela Carter, Russell Hoban, Adrienne Rich and Arundhati Roy a comprehensive, regularly updated companion website supplying further information and activities, sample analyses and a wealth of stimulating and reliable links to further online resources. Studying English Literature and Language is a wide-ranging and invaluable reference for anyone interested in the study of English language, literature and culture.

Inhalt

PROLOGUE: CHANGING 'ENGLISH' NOW

Crossing borders, establishing boundaries
Texts in contexts: literature in history
Seeing through theory
English Literature and Creative Writing
English Language Teaching
Technologising the subject: actual and virtual communities
Forewords! Some propositions and provocations

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH STUDIES

Preview

1.1 Which 'Englishes'?One English language, literature, culture or many
historically
geographically
socially
by medium
Summary: one and many

1.2 'Doing English' ten essential actions |Getting your bearings
Turning up, taking part: lectures and seminars
Taking and making notes
Close reading wide reading
Library, web, 'home' an ongoing cycle
Taking responsibility: referencing and plagiarism
Writing an essay to make a mark
Doing a presentation to prompt a response
Revision preparing to take an exam
Seriously enjoy studying English!

1.3 Fields of study: a preliminary mappingLanguage
Literature
Culture, communication and media
Summary: keeping on course and making your own way

PART TWO: CRITICAL & CREATIVE STRATEGIES FOR ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION

Preview

2.1 Initial analysis: how to approach a textOpening moves: NoticePatternContrastFeeling
Core questions: What, Who, When. Where, How, Why and What if?
Worked and played example: William Blake's 'London'

2.2 Full interpretation: informed reading, adventurous writingInterpretative framew…