Animal Rights and the Politics of Literary Representation

This book addresses the question of animal rights in the context of literary criticism. Working from a committed position, it asks the question, 'What would literary studies look like if we took animal rights seriously?' It offers critical surveys of the main themes in the history of animal rights and some of the more important contemporary positions together with readings of a wide range of literary texts from classical antiquity to the present day. This Book Addresses The Question Of Animal Rights In The Context Of Literary Criticism. Working From A Committed Position It Asks What Literary Studies Would Look Like If Animal Rights Were Taken Seriously. It Offers Critical Surveys Of The Main Themes In The History Of Animal Rights And Some Of The More Important Contemporary Positions Together With Readings Of A Wide Range Of Literary Texts From Classical Antiquity Through To The Present Day. 1. Introduction: What Is An Animal? -- 2. The Animal In Some Contemporary Thought: A Survey -- 3. Animal Rights In History: A Survey -- 4. A Chapter Of Vulgar Errors -- 5. The Animal As Symbol -- 6. Anthropomorphism: The Non-human As Human -- 7. Transformation: The Human As Non-human And Vice Versa -- 8. Towards A Conclusion And A Way Forward. John Simons. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 210-215) And Index. This text addresses the question of animal rights in the context of literary criticism. Working from a committed position, it asks the question, "What would literary studies look like if we took animal rights seriously?" It offers critical surveys of the main themes in the history of animal rights and some of the more important contemporary positions together with readings of a wide range of literary texts from classical antiquity to the year 2001 Front Matter....Pages i-xii Introduction....Pages 1-12 The Animal in Some Contemporary Thought....Pages 13-37 Animal Rights in History....Pages 38-60 A Chapter of Vulgar Errors....Pages 61-84 The Animal as Symbol....Pages 85-115 Anthropomorphism....Pages 116-139 Transformation....Pages 140-172 Towards a Conclusion and a Way Forward....Pages 173-192 Back Matter....Pages 193-218