Cover -- Copyright -- Preface -- Section I - Introductory -- 1 What is Literature? -- 2 English Literary Studies: Origins and Nature -- 3 Kinds of Literature -- Section II - Poetry -- 4 Poetry: An Introduction -- 5 Metre and Rhythm -- 6 Verse Forms -- 7 Poetic Imagery -- 8 Poetry and History -- 9 Vernacular Poetry -- Section III - Narrative -- 10 Genre and Form: The Short Story -- 11 Narrative Language -- 12 Narrative Structure and Technique -- 13 Constructing Character -- 14 Narrative, Society and History -- 15 Life Writing -- Section IV - Drama -- 16 Introducing Drama -- 17 Text and Performance -- 18 Tragedy -- 19 Comedy -- 20 History and Politics -- 21 Sex, Gender and Performance -- Works Cited -- Notes on Contributors -- Index.