City Libraries, City of Gold Coast

Literary intention, literary interpretation, and readers, John Maynard

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

index present

non fiction

Literary intention, literary interpretation, and readers

bibliography

233939972

John Maynard

"This accessible, personal, and provocative study returns to the major subject in literary discussion before and during the relatively recent flourishing of literary theory, that of literary intention. Does the author's personal intention or historical site determine a correct interpretation of a literary work? Probing the entire range of issues connected with this many-faceted and knotty concept, this book engages with interpretation on both theoretical and practical levels. It argues that the hard questions about interpretation connected to issues of intention cannot be sidestepped or ignored. It does not argue for conservative concepts of literature itself, nor against the major historical engagements of critics in our time. But in addressing those who continue to read or teach literature, it does insist on a level of sophistication in issues of literary interpretation that cannot be assured by historical research and knowledge of the social and cultural connections to literary works. The overall aim of the work is to recall readers to the great complexity, pleasure, and interest of literary interpretation."--Publisher's website

Introduction -- Literary Intention/ality -- Rereading Reader Theories: Interventions and Intrusions -- Conclusion and Work in Progress: Reader Theory Meets Real Readers