It is observed that criticism in the latter half of the twentieth century becomes language-oriented. By and large, it aims to analyze the work of literature on the basis of diction, syntax, imagery, tropes, etc. and to apply the analysis to the general interpretation, which comprises the thematic illustration of the work under scrutiny.
New Trends in Literary Criticism: A Spectrum provides the students of literature with a guideline, which includes the statements of these intertwined approaches—formalist, new critical, structuralist, and deconstructionist—besides exploring into the possibilities of their application to the different genres of literature.
The book provides a new approach, a unique method of interpreting literature with the application of which the students can become active participants as they try to study literature by means of scientific study of language, i.e. linguistics. It attempts to put forth the fact that literature can be studied keeping in mind certain linguistic theories and that the basis of literary analysis is not just theme, plot, characterization, narrative technique, etc. but words, phrases, sentences, images, symbols, etc. also.
The book will prove useful to the students and teachers of English literature and researchers in this field.