Literary Criticism: A Glossary of Major Terms

This book offers, in 27 essays, an introduction to the major terms of literary criticism.

Topics range from ‘allegory’ to wit and humour, and each essay is an extended discussion, showing how the term under consideration actually works, and where necessary, distinguishing between the modern and traditional understanding of the term.

Each of the essays is widely illustrated with quotations, from works of literature, and from works of criticism.

Dr. Murray concentrates on the terms relating to poetry and drama; in the case of terms with a wider application, almost all examples are selected from poems or plays.

A select bibliography is provided at the end of each essay, for readers who wish to study in greater depth.
Dr. Murray is a lecturer at Maynooth College, National University of Ireland.