"Deborah Appleman shows us that literary theory is neither irrelevant nor too difficult for classroom use, and indeed can be a good starting point in untangling the bits and pieces out of which current practice is constructed."

–From the Foreword by Arthur N. Applebee

This absorbing book challenges current paradigms of literature instruction by making a strong case for teaching critical theory in high school literature classrooms. Deborah Appleman urges teachers to expand their theoretical repertoires. She argues for the importance of multiple perspectives in enabling students to better read and interpret literature, as well as culture and the media. The lessons and strategies presented provide a rich resource for teaching a variety of critical approaches, including reader response, feminism, Marxism, and deconstruction. The teaching strategies themselves can be adapted to a variety of classroom settings. Ready-to-use teacher handouts and lists of suggested readings are included.

This practical and creative book makes a distinguished contribution to the literature on language and literacy. Teachers who have shied away from teaching literary theory will find it extremely accessible.