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Practical Criticism

  • Textbook
  • © 1995

Overview

Authors:
  1. John Peck

    1. University of Wales, Cardiff, UK

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    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  2. Martin Coyle

    1. University of Wales, Cardiff, UK

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    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Part of the book series: Macmillan Study Skills (MASTSK)

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Table of contents (17 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xii
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  2. Poetry

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
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    2. Why ‘practical criticism’?

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 3-13

    3. Understanding a poem

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 14-25

    4. Understanding a poem: some examples

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 26-36

    5. Building a response

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 37-49

    6. Discussing a detail, building a case

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 50-62

    7. Twenty questions

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 63-72

    8. Technical terms

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 73-87

    9. Writing a poetry practical criticism essay

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 88-112

    10. Taking things further

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 113-120

  3. Prose

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 121-121
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    2. Understanding a passage of prose

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 123-133

    3. Understanding a passage of prose: some examples

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 134-145

    4. Building a response

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 146-157

    5. Discussing a detail, building a case

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 158-167

    6. Writing a prose practical criticism essay

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 168-177

  4. Drama

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 179-179
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    2. Understanding an extract from a play

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 181-192

    3. Building a response

      • John Peck, Martin Coyle
      Pages 193-201
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Keywords

About this book

Practical criticism underlies everything students of English literature do. It is a way of reading the text closely, but with a grasp of the larger issues involved. This book is a practical, step-by-step guide which shows the student how to gain a sense of what a poem or passage of prose or drama is about, how to analyse it and how to build a successful essay. Easy to read and uncluttered by technical vocabulary, it will prove an invaluable resource for any student.

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Wales, Cardiff, UK

    John Peck, Martin Coyle

About the authors

Author John Peck: John Peck is now retired and was formerly Reader in Victorian Literature at Cardiff University, UK. With Martin Coyle he edits the Key Concepts series for Palgrave Macmillan. Author Martin Coyle: Martin Coyle is Professor of English Literature at Cardiff University, UK. With John Peck he edits the Key Concepts series for Palgrave Macmillan.

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