Cengage/Higher Education/Literature/PORTABLE Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing
Return to search
New edition available!
PORTABLE Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing, 10th Edition is now available.
View course
PORTABLE Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing book cover
Student viewInstructor view

PORTABLE Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing

By Laurie G. Kirszner, Stephen R. Mandell

9th Edition © 2017
Discipline:English
Course:Literature
Starting from$128.95
See pricing details and explore formats

Get your course materials

Cengage Unlimited

Get day-one access to course content, AI-powered support, and resources to build college and career-ready skills.

Manage Subscription

Textbook

Buy or Rent the textbook

Get a new, printed copy of your textbook, ready for notes and highlighting. Plus, free shipping and returns on orders. *See terms and conditions.

New edition available
Added to cart.
Something went wrong. Please try again.

Questions about this product?

Get help with product, platform or format questions.

Let’s connect
Explore instructor resources

About your course materials

PORTABLE LITERATURE: READING, REACTING, WRITING, Ninth Edition, includes a wide selection of essential classic and contemporary readings along with brief introductions to the literary genres, useful study questions and prompts, and a down-to-earth, accessible guide to writing about literature. This streamlined edition is an affordable, portable alternative to the full-length and compact versions of this popular Introduction to Literature text. This edition has been updated to reflect guidelines from the 2016 MLA HANDBOOK, Eighth Edition.

Frequently asked questions

How do I enroll in or join my course?

Your instructor will tell you how to access your course. You may join through your school’s LMS, a course link or a course key. If you’re unsure which method to use, check with your instructor.

How do I redeem an access code, or what if my code isn't working?

Sign in to your Cengage account and select Enter Access Code or Course Key, then enter your access code and select Register. If your code is damaged, missing or still doesn't work, contact Cengage Support.

Why can't I access my course?

How you access your course depends on how your instructor set it up. Start from your LMS, course link or course key. If you've purchased access but still can't open the course, Cengage Help can help you troubleshoot your access.

Where can I find my eBook or textbook?

You can access available eBooks from your Cengage student dashboard or from your Cengage course. If your class uses an LMS, your instructor may also provide access there.

What if I don't have access to my course materials yet?

Temporary access may be available for some Cengage courses. If offered, you can use your course during the grace period and purchase or register your access code before it ends. Options for expired access vary by product.

AboutTable of contentsResourcesPricing & formatsRelated products

About this product

PORTABLE LITERATURE: READING, REACTING, WRITING, Ninth Edition, includes a wide selection of essential classic and contemporary readings along with brief introductions to the literary genres, useful study questions and prompts, and a down-to-earth, accessible guide to writing about literature. This streamlined edition is an affordable, portable alternative to the full-length and compact versions of this popular Introduction to Literature text. This edition has been updated to reflect guidelines from the 2016 MLA HANDBOOK, Eighth Edition.

PORTABLE LITERATURE: READING, REACTING, WRITING, Ninth Edition, includes all of the essential classic and contemporary readings along with brief introductions to the literary genres and useful study questions and prompts, providing everything students need in a convenient and affordable format.

The text opens with a down-to-earth, accessible guide to writing about literature, providing students with a solid foundation from which to approach readings, assignments, and discussions throughout the course.

Over eight editions, this brief but thorough Introduction to Literature text has been consistently praised for its clarity and student friendliness. In the ninth edition, Kirszner and Mandell continue to bring their student-centered approach to discussions of literary elements, including stories, poems, and plays that students are sure to find relevant and interesting.

The text includes five sample student papers, carefully selected to provide students with examples of effective responses to assignments frequently used in Introduction to Literature, Composition, and Argument courses.

Table of contents

Chapters

Part I: A GUIDE TO WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE.
1. Reading and Writing about Literature.
2. Writing Literary Arguments.
3. Documenting Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism.
Part II: FICTION.
4. Understanding Fiction.
5. Fiction Sampler: The Short-Short Story.
6. Fiction Sampler: Graphic Fiction.
7. Plot.
8. Character.
9. Setting.
10. Point of View.
11. Style, Tone, and Language.
12. Symbol, Allegory, and Myth.
13. Theme.
14. Fiction for Further Reading.
Part III: POETRY.
15. Understanding Poetry.
16. Voice.
17. Word Choice, Word Order.
18. Imagery.
19. Figures of Speech.
20. Sound.
21. Form.
22. Symbol, Allegory, Allusion, Myth.
23. Discovering Themes in Poetry.
24. Poetry for Further Reading.
Part IV: DRAMA.
25. Understanding Drama.
26. Drama Sampler: Ten-Minute Plays.
27. Plot.
28. Character.
29. Staging.
30. Theme.
Appendix.
Show more

1. Reading and Writing about Literature.

Reading Literature.
CHECKLIST: Using Highlighting Symbols.
Maya Angelou, "My Arkansas." Writing About Literature.
CHECKLIST: Using Sources.
CHECKLIST: Conventions of Writing About Literature.
Exercise: Three Model Student Essays.

Resources

Instructor resources for this title can include manuals, test banks, educator guides, multimedia and companion sites. Sign in to see what is available.

Instructor manuals
Test banks
Educator guides
Multimedia
Companion sites
Sign in to view & download

Pricing and formats

Learning Platforms
eBook
Textbook
Bundle

Print

Purchase

ISBN-13: 9781337281010
$128.95
New edition available
Sign in to view & adopt this title

Related products

MindTap for Cengage Literature Anthology, 1 term Instant Access book cover
Higher Education

MindTap for Cengage Literature Anthology, 1 term Instant Access

Cengage
3rd Edition © 2024
MindTap
Starting from
$61.99
View details
Perrine’s Sound & Sense: An Introduction to Poetry book cover
Higher Education

Perrine’s Sound & Sense: An Introduction to Poetry

Greg Johnson, Thomas R. Arp
15th Edition © 2018
Paperback
Starting from
$80.00
View details
Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense book cover
Higher Education

Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense

Greg Johnson, Thomas R. Arp
13th Edition © 2018
Paperback
Starting from
$80.00
View details
A Glossary of Literary Terms book cover
Higher Education

A Glossary of Literary Terms

M.H. Abrams, Geoffrey Harpham
11th Edition © 2015
Paperback
eBook
Starting from
$61.99
View details

This product is provided solely for instructional purposes, and your use of this product is governed by Cengage's Terms of Use. By using this product, you acknowledge your obligation to comply with these terms. View Terms of Use.

Cengage support team
Cengage support team

Still need support?

Get help with course access, registration, purchases or technical issues from Cengage Support.
Contact support
Cengage support team
Cengage support team

Need help?

Connect with us today, and let’s explore how we can support your goals.
Get in touch
Cengage
Higher Education
K–12
Higher Education

Higher Education

Future-focused tools to teach, learn, and build career-ready skills.
Get started

Students

Instructors

Leaders

Librarians

Career and Workforce
Sign In

Higher Education

Student
Instructor
Gale
ELL
Name
Dashboard
Profile
Sign Out
Support

Recent searches

Chemistry
Mindtap Biology
Calculus
Recent query

Suggestions

Calculus230 results
Calculus Early Transcendentals84 results
Calculus Concepts37 results
Suggestion0 results

Matching products

2 results
Abstract navy to teal gradient placeholder
TAGTAGTAG
9th Edition•© 2021

Calculus: Early Transcendentals

James Stewart, Daniel K. Clegg and Saleem Watson

Abstract navy to teal gradient placeholder
TAGTAGTAG
9th Edition•© 2021

Calculus

James Stewart, Daniel K. Clegg and Saleem Watson

TAG
Edition

Product title

Authors
No matching products. Press Enter to search the full catalog.
Product suggestions are unavailable right now. Press Enter to search the full catalog.
Searching…
Sign In

Higher Education

Student
Instructor
Gale
ELL
Name
Dashboard
Profile
Sign Out
Your basket (3)
eTextbook: Calculus | 12th Edition
eTextbook Access: 360 days
$76.99
Cengage Unlimited - Full - Multi-Term Access (12 months)
Digital Access: 365 days
$124.99
Introduction to Physical Anthropology | 15th Edition
Textbook
$124.99
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
This is some text inside of a div block.
Your basket is empty.
We couldn’t load your basket. Please try again.
Loading your basket…
Total:
$201.98
I’m ready to checkout
Get Support
US
Change Country
Students

Students

See Overview

Access & Use Products

Access Instructions
Help Center

Get Help

Instructors

Instructors

See Overview

Products

Disciplines
Learning Platforms
Cengage Unlimited

Access & Use Products

Instructor Support
Course Setup
Training
Help Center

Get help

Leaders & Admins

Leaders & Admins

See Overview

Programs

Cengage Unlimited
Gale

Access & Use Products

LMS Integration

Resources

Published Research
Help Center

Get help

Librarians

Librarians

See Overview

Products

Databases
Primary Sources
Digital Humanities Tools
eLearning

Access & Use Products

Discovery Services
Gale Support
Gale Support

Get Support

Find Your Local Cengage Site

Select country
🇦🇫
Afghanistan
🇦🇱
Albania
🇩🇿
Algeria
🇦🇩
Andorra
🇦🇴
Angola
🇦🇮
Anguilla
🇦🇬
Antigua and Barbuda
🇦🇷
Argentina
🇦🇲
Armenia
🇦🇼
Aruba
🇦🇺
Australia
🇦🇹
Austria
🇦🇿
Azerbaijan
🇧🇸
Bahamas
🇧🇭
Bahrain
🇧🇩
Bangladesh
🇧🇧
Barbados
🇧🇾
Belarus
🇧🇪
Belgium
🇧🇿
Belize
🇧🇯
Benin
🇧🇲
Bermuda
🇧🇹
Bhutan
🇧🇴
Bolivia
🇧🇦
Bosnia and Herzegovina
🇧🇼
Botswana
🇧🇷
Brazil
🇻🇬
British Virgin Islands
🇧🇳
Brunei
🇧🇬
Bulgaria
🇧🇫
Burkina Faso
🇧🇮
Burundi
🇰🇭
Cambodia
🇨🇲
Cameroon
🇨🇦
Canada
🇨🇻
Cape Verde
🇰🇾
Cayman Islands
🇨🇫
Central African Republic
🇹🇩
Chad
🇨🇱
Chile
🇨🇳
China
🇨🇴
Colombia
🇰🇲
Comoros
🇨🇰
Cook Islands
🇨🇷
Costa Rica
🇨🇮
Côte d'Ivoire
🇭🇷
Croatia
🇨🇺
Cuba
🇨🇾
Cyprus
🇨🇿
Czech Republic
🇨🇩
Democratic Republic of the Congo
🇩🇰
Denmark
🇩🇯
Djibouti
🇩🇲
Dominica
🇩🇴
Dominican Republic
🇪🇨
Ecuador
🇪🇬
Egypt
🇸🇻
El Salvador
🇬🇶
Equatorial Guinea
🇪🇷
Eritrea
🇪🇪
Estonia
🇸🇿
Eswatini
🇪🇹
Ethiopia
🇫🇰
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
🇫🇴
Faroe Islands
🇫🇯
Fiji
🇫🇮
Finland
🇫🇷
France
🇬🇫
French Guiana
🇬🇪
Georgia
🇩🇪
Germany
🇬🇭
Ghana
🇬🇮
Gibraltar
🇬🇷
Greece
🇬🇱
Greenland
🇬🇩
Grenada
🇬🇵
Guadeloupe
🇬🇺
Guam
🇬🇹
Guatemala
🇬🇳
Guinea
🇬🇼
Guinea-Bissau
🇬🇾
Guyana
🇭🇹
Haiti
🇭🇳
Honduras
🇭🇰
Hong Kong
🇭🇺
Hungary
🇮🇸
Iceland
🇮🇳
India
🇮🇩
Indonesia
🇮🇷
Iran
🇮🇶
Iraq
🇮🇪
Ireland
🇮🇱
Israel
🇮🇹
Italy
🇯🇲
Jamaica
🇯🇵
Japan
🇯🇴
Jordan
🇰🇿
Kazakhstan
🇰🇪
Kenya
🇰🇮
Kiribati
🇰🇼
Kuwait
🇰🇬
Kyrgyzstan
🇱🇦
Laos
🇱🇻
Latvia
🇱🇧
Lebanon
🇱🇸
Lesotho
🇱🇷
Liberia
🇱🇮
Liechtenstein
🇱🇹
Lithuania
🇱🇺
Luxembourg
🇲🇴
Macau
🇲🇬
Madagascar
🇲🇼
Malawi
🇲🇾
Malaysia
🇲🇻
Maldives
🇲🇱
Mali
🇲🇹
Malta
🇲🇭
Marshall Islands
🇲🇶
Martinique
🇲🇷
Mauritania
🇲🇺
Mauritius
🇲🇽
Mexico
🇲🇩
Moldova
🇲🇨
Monaco
🇲🇳
Mongolia
🇲🇪
Montenegro
🇲🇸
Montserrat
🇲🇦
Morocco
🇲🇿
Mozambique
🇲🇲
Myanmar
🇳🇦
Namibia
🇳🇷
Nauru
🇳🇵
Nepal
🇳🇱
Netherlands
🇳🇿
New Zealand
🇳🇮
Nicaragua
🇳🇪
Niger
🇳🇬
Nigeria
🇳🇺
Niue
🇰🇵
North Korea
🇲🇰
North Macedonia
🇳🇴
Norway
🇴🇲
Oman
🇵🇰
Pakistan
🇵🇼
Palau
🇵🇸
Palestine
🇵🇦
Panama
🇵🇬
Papua New Guinea
🇵🇾
Paraguay
🇨🇬
People's Republic of Congo
🇵🇪
Peru
🇵🇭
Philippines
🇵🇱
Poland
🇵🇹
Portugal
🇵🇷
Puerto Rico
🇶🇦
Qatar
🇷🇴
Romania
🇷🇺
Russia
🇷🇼
Rwanda
🇼🇸
Samoa
🇸🇲
San Marino
🇸🇹
Sao Tome and Principe
🇸🇦
Saudi Arabia
🇸🇳
Senegal
🇷🇸
Serbia
🇸🇨
Seychelles
🇸🇱
Sierra Leone
🇸🇬
Singapore
🇸🇰
Slovakia
🇸🇮
Slovenia
🇸🇧
Solomon Islands
🇸🇴
Somalia
🇿🇦
South Africa
🇰🇷
South Korea
🇪🇸
Spain
🇱🇰
Sri Lanka
🇰🇳
St. Kitts and Nevis
🇱🇨
St. Lucia
🇵🇲
St. Pierre and Miquelon
🇻🇨
St. Vincent & The Grenadines
🇸🇩
Sudan
🇸🇷
Suriname
🇸🇯
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands
🇸🇪
Sweden
🇨🇭
Switzerland
🇸🇾
Syria
🇹🇼
Taiwan
🇹🇯
Tajikistan
🇹🇿
Tanzania
🇹🇭
Thailand
🇹🇱
Timor-Leste
🇹🇬
Togo
🇹🇰
Tokelau
🇹🇴
Tonga
🇹🇹
Trinidad and Tobago
🇹🇳
Tunisia
🇹🇷
Turkey
🇹🇲
Turkmenistan
🇹🇨
Turks and Caicos Islands
🇹🇻
Tuvalu
🇺🇬
Uganda
🇺🇦
Ukraine
🇦🇪
United Arab Emirates
🇬🇧
United Kingdom
🇺🇸
United States
🇺🇾
Uruguay
🇺🇿
Uzbekistan
🇻🇺
Vanuatu
🇻🇦
Vatican
🇻🇪
Venezuela
🇻🇳
Vietnam
🇪🇭
Western Sahara
🇾🇪
Yemen
🇿🇲
Zambia
🇿🇼
Zimbabwe
Cengage

Welcome to Cengage

It looks like you’re visiting from another country. Would you like to visit your local Cengage site instead?

Cengage logo

Support

(800) 354-9706

support.cengage.com

K–12

Higher Education

Career and Workforce

Students

Instructors

Leaders & Admin

Librarians

Company

About

News

Research & Outcomes

Investors

Careers

Content Development Philosophy

Authors/Royalties

Cengage AI

Contact

Contact Us

Support

ServicePlus Ordering

© 2020 Cengage Learning, Inc. and its affiliates

Copyright

Privacy

Piracy

Terms of Use

Accessibility

Compliance & Ethics

Do Not Sell