The Norton introduction to literature / [edited by] Kelly J. Mays

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Preface for instructors -- Introduction -- Part One. Fiction. Chapter 1. Fiction : Reading, responding, writing -- Understanding the Text. Chapter 2. Plot -- Chapter 3. Narration and point of view -- Chapter 4. Character -- Chapter 5. Setting -- Chapter 6. Symbolism and figurative language -- Chapter 7. Theme -- Exploring Contexts. Chapter 8. The author's work as context : Flannery O'Connor -- Chapter 9. Cultural and historical contexts : Women in turn-of-the-century America -- Chapter 10. Critical contexts : Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" -- Reading More Fiction -- Part Two. Poetry. Chapter 11. Poetry : Reading, responding, writing -- Understanding the Text. Chapter 12. Speaker : Whose voice do we hear? -- Chapter 13. Situation and setting : What happens? Where? When? -- Chapter 14. Theme and tone -- Chapter 15. Language : Word choice and order -- Chapter 16. Visual imagery and figures of speech -- Chapter 17. Symbol -- Chapter 18. The sounds of poetry -- Chapter 19. Internal structure -- Chapter 20. External form -- Exploring Contexts. Chapter 21. The author's work as context : Adrienne Rich -- Chapter 22. Cultural and historical contexts : The Harlem Renaissance -- Chapter 23. Critical contexts : Sylvia Plath's "Daddy" -- Reading More Poetry -- Part Three. Drama. Chapter 24. Drama : Reading, responding, writing -- Understanding the Text. Chapter 25. Elements of drama -- Exploring Contexts. Chapter 26. The author's work as context : William Shakespeare -- Chapter 27. Cultural and historical contexts : Lorraine Hansberry's 'A Raisin in the Sun' -- Chapter 28. Critical contexts : Sophocles's 'Antigone' -- Reading More Drama -- Part Four. Writing About Literature. Writing About Literature. Chapter 29. Basic moves : Paraphrase, summary, and description -- Chapter 30. The literature essay -- Chapter 31. The writing process -- Chapter 32. The literature research essay -- Chapter 33. Quotation, citation, and documentation -- Chapter 34. Sample research essay -- Critical approaches -- Permissions Acknowledgments -- Index of authors -- Index of titles and first lines -- Glossary / Index of literary terms.

"'The Norton Introduction to Literature' offers the ideal mix of the stories, poetry, and plays at the heart of every literature course. With abundant tools for close reading and thoughtful writing, thorough treatment of literary context, and the most comprehensive menu of teaching resources, 'The Norton Introduction to Literature' help students understand, analyze, and write about literature better than any other text of its kind. New contemporary selections include a compelling array by authors such as Louise Erdrich, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Haruki Muakami, Ada Limon, Natalie Diaz, Evie Shockey, Claudia Rankine, and Lynn Nottage, complementing classroom favorites by Toni Morrison, Virginia Woolf, and Oscar Wilde, among others"--