Beginning theory Manchester University PressBeginnings Series editors: Peter Barry and Helen Carr "Beginnings’ is series of books designed to give practical help to students beginning to tackle recent developments in English, Literary Studies and Cultural Studies. The books in the series « demonstrate and encourage a questioning engogement with the new; «© give essential information about the context and history of exch topic covered; 1 show how to develop a practice which is up-to-date and informed by theory. Each book focuses uncompromisingly upon the needs of its readers, who ‘have the right to expect lucidity and clarity to be the distinctive feature of, ‘a book which includes the word ‘beginning’ in its title. Each aims to hy a firm foundation of well understood initial principles 18a basis for further study and is committed to explaining new aspects of the discipline without over-simplifcation, but in a manner appropriate to the needs of beginners. Exch book, finaly, aims to be bith an introduction and a contribution to the topie area it dseusees. Also in the series “Beginning ethnic American literatures Helena Grice, Candila Hepworth, ‘Maria Lauret and Martin Padget Beginning Shakespeare Lise Hopkins Beginning posteolonialism Job McLeod ‘Beginning postmodernism Tim Woods Beginning theory An introduction to literary and cultural theory Second edition Peter Barry Manchester University Press Manchester and New York Disbuted excel nthe USA by PalgraveCopyright © Peter Barry 1995, 2002 —————— “The right of Peter Barry to be identified as the author of this work hs been cml by bin in aordnce with the Copyrighy Bese and Patents Act} 8 Contents Fin eon publsed 195 by Manchester University Prt Reprinted nine times. ‘This ition published 2002 by ‘Manchester University Press Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9NR, UK ‘and Room 400, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA, ‘wwy.manchesteruniversiypres.co.uk Disribted exclusively in the USA dy Palgrave, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA Acknowledgements Dinvbted exclusively in Canada Preface to the second edition ty UBC Press, Univessiy of British Columbia, 2029 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada VET 122 Introduction About this book rich Library Cualoungi- Publication Data Approaching theory ‘Acaalogue record for ths book is available from the British Library Stop and think: reviewing your study of literature to date Library of Congress Ctaloging-in-Pubicaton Data applied for My own ‘stock-taking? 1 Theory before ‘theory’ - liberal humanism ‘The history of English studies Stop and think ‘Ten tenets of liberal humanism 10 09 08 07 06 05 0987654 Literary theotising from Aristotle to Leavis ~ some key moments Liberal humanism in practice ‘The transition to ‘theory” Some recurrent ideas in critical theory Selected reading ISBN 0 7190 6268 3 paperback ‘This edition first published in 2002 2. Structuralism Structuralist chickens and liberal humanist eggs Signs of the fathers ~ Saussure Stop and think ‘Typeset in Great Brin ‘The scope of structuralism ‘by Northern Phototypeseing Co Ltd, Bolton ‘What structuralist critics do Prine in Great Britsin Structuralist criticism: examples by Chys Lad, St Ives le ‘Stop and think Page x it w u 16 21 31 32 34 36 39 39 41 45 46 49 50 53