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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.

Practical Criticism

Acknowledgements.- Preface.- PART 1: POETRY Why 'Practical Criticism'?.- Understanding Poetry.- Understanding a Poem: Some Examples Building a Response.- Discussing a Detail, Building a Case.- Twenty Questions.- Technical Terms.- Writing a Poetry.- Practical Criticism.- Essay Taking Things Further.- PART 2: PROSE Understanding a Passage of Prose.- Understanding a Passage of Prose: Some Examples Building a Response Discussing a Detail, Building a Case.- Writing a Prose Practical Criticism Essay.- PART 3: DRAMA Understanding an Extract from a Play.- Building a Response.- Writing a Drama.- Practical Criticism.- Essay.- Further Reading.