A Handbook of Literary Terms is an essential text for all serious students of literature. This indispensable, authoritative, and highly affordable reference covers terms useful in discussing literature and literary history, theory, and criticism. Perfect as a core text for introductory literary theory or as a supplement to any literature course, this classic work is an invaluable reference that students can continue to use throughout their academic and professional careers Key Features The alphabetical organization makes this comprehensive text remarkably easy to use as a convenient reference To provide students with a broad understanding, each literary term is defined in a short, reader-friendly essay Within each entry, boldfaced type indicates terms for which the entry provides the principal discussion, while italics identify terms discussed more fully elsewhere in the text, making it easy to place the reading in context and locate additional useful informationTable of Contents1. Preface 2. How to Use This Glossary 3. Literary Terms 4. Index of Authors