ebook img

Futile Pleasures: Early Modern Literature and the Limits of Utility PDF

02017·0.382 MB·English
Save to my drive
Quick download
Download

Download Futile Pleasures: Early Modern Literature and the Limits of Utility PDF Free - Full Version

by Corey McEleney| 20170| 0.382| English

About Futile Pleasures: Early Modern Literature and the Limits of Utility

Honorable Mention, 2018 MLA Prize for a First BookAgainst the defensive backdrop of countless apologetic justifications for the value of literature and the humanities, Futile Pleasures reframes the current conversation by returning to the literary culture of early modern England, a culture whose defensive posture toward literature rivals and shapes our own.During the Renaissance, poets justified the value of their work on the basis of the notion that the purpose of poetry is to please and instruct, that it must be both delightful and useful. At the same time, many of these writers faced the possibility that the pleasures of literature may be in conflict with the demand to be useful and valuable. Analyzing the rhetoric of pleasure and the pleasure of rhetoric in texts by William Shakespeare, Roger Ascham, Thomas Nashe, Edmund Spenser, and John Milton, McEleney explores the ambivalence these writers display toward literature’s potential for useless, frivolous vanity. Tracing that ambivalence forward to the modern era, this book also shows how contemporary critics have recapitulated Renaissance humanist ideals about aesthetic value. Against a longstanding tradition that defensively advocates for the redemptive utility of literature, Futile Pleasures both theorizes and performs the queer pleasures of futility. Without ever losing sight of the costs of those pleasures, McEleney argues that playing with futility may be one way of moving beyond the impasses that modern humanists, like their early modern counterparts, have always faced.

Detailed Information

0
Author:Corey McEleney
Publication Year:2017
ISBN:9780823272679
Language:English
File Size:0.382
Format:PDF
Price:FREE
Download Free PDF

Safe & Secure Download - No registration required

Why Choose PDFdrive for Your Free Futile Pleasures: Early Modern Literature and the Limits of Utility Download?

  • 100% Free: No hidden fees or subscriptions required for one book every day.
  • No Registration: Immediate access is available without creating accounts for one book every day.
  • Safe and Secure: Clean downloads without malware or viruses
  • Multiple Formats: PDF, MOBI, Mpub,... optimized for all devices
  • Educational Resource: Supporting knowledge sharing and learning

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really free to download Futile Pleasures: Early Modern Literature and the Limits of Utility PDF?

Yes, on https://PDFdrive.to you can download Futile Pleasures: Early Modern Literature and the Limits of Utility by Corey McEleney completely free. We don't require any payment, subscription, or registration to access this PDF file. For 3 books every day.

How can I read Futile Pleasures: Early Modern Literature and the Limits of Utility on my mobile device?

After downloading Futile Pleasures: Early Modern Literature and the Limits of Utility PDF, you can open it with any PDF reader app on your phone or tablet. We recommend using Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Books, or Google Play Books for the best reading experience.

Is this the full version of Futile Pleasures: Early Modern Literature and the Limits of Utility?

Yes, this is the complete PDF version of Futile Pleasures: Early Modern Literature and the Limits of Utility by Corey McEleney. You will be able to read the entire content as in the printed version without missing any pages.

Is it legal to download Futile Pleasures: Early Modern Literature and the Limits of Utility PDF for free?

https://PDFdrive.to provides links to free educational resources available online. We do not store any files on our servers. Please be aware of copyright laws in your country before downloading.

The materials shared are intended for research, educational, and personal use in accordance with fair use principles.