Bruce Beiderwell and Jeff Wheeler know that studying literature can be intimidating because of the specialized terminology and categorization. Rather than focusing first on terms or definitions, THE LITERARY EXPERIENCE, Compact Edition helps you develop the skills that make literature accessible, organizing the book and beginning each discussion by asking the same questions that students really ask themselves when they read a text, questions like "What is happening here?" or "Is there some other story that we're supposed to know?" With THE LITERARY EXPERIENCE, you will learn all of the literary terms you need to share your experience while you engage in the poems, stories and plays themselves.