Mastering Practical Criticism offers students of English Literature at advanced and degree levels a clear, well-explained guide to mastering the skills of critical appreciation. It starts with ways of unlocking meaning in literary texts and proceeds through each stage of the process to the final essay response. Students are given useful and practical advice on organising their material as they analyse the text, thus saving valuable time in examinations. This is a skills-based guide, offering plenty of thoroughly worked through examples, designed to build confidence and remove some of the anxiety that frequently accompanies unseen critical analysis.