The Norton Introduction to Literature is a new series of Norton anthologies for introductory courses in the reading of fiction, poetry, and drama.
Each volume contains a rich selection of classic and modern literature, Fiction contains 40 stories; Poetry offers 624 poems; Drama contains 13 plays. All the selection are, of course, appropriately annotated.
The selections are arranged to enable the student and teacher to read with increasing understanding-first of subject and theme, then of form, kinds, and technique, and finally of historical and biographical considerations. The course need not, therefore, be limited to the “new-critical” approach. The organization is explained in a “Note on Arrangement” at these beginning of each volume.
Each volume contains an instructive preface to the reading of the genre, and also a series of concluding essays on important topics. An instructor may, if he wishes, use these essays as introductory chapters to the readings.
A teacher’s guide has been provided for each volume.