Gerald Graff

Falling into Theory: Conflicting Views on Reading Literature

Just how much theory literature students should get early in their undergraduate studies is a question that frequently surfaces in departmental discussions of curriculum. Should they become acquainted with literary texts and learn to read and write about them before they are introduced to the contemporary theoretical debates that absorb many of us in literature departments? Or is it more effective to introduce undergraduates to the critical controversies early so they can recognize the approaches they encounter in their classes and situate their own reading and writing in those debates? The latter view is the driving principle of David H. Richter’s anthology Falling into Theory. “Students,” Richter argues, “need as early as possible an exposure to the debates themselves to mark out their own positions” (ix). He regards his book as a “primer” that implements Gerald Graff’s belief that we should “teach the conflicts.” It aims to involve students in the issues of academic debate, to “get them engaged in our conversation” (ix). This anthology is valuable in many ways. Richter has thought a lot about teaching, and the book poses many questions about literary study that every student and teacher should consider. In this revised edition, twenty-two of the thirty-eight pieces are new, and many are complete essays, given as orig-

Literature Against Itself: Literary Ideas in Modern Society.@@@Tropics of Discourse: Essays in Cultural Criticism.

Will reading habit influence your life? Many say yes. Reading literature against itself literary ideas in modern society is a good habit; you can develop this habit to be such interesting way. Yeah, reading habit will not only make you have any favourite activity. It will be one of guidance of your life. When reading has become a habit, you will not make it as disturbing activities or as boring activity. You can gain many benefits and importances of reading.