Literary Criticism for Students (and anyone else)
A guide to researching literary criticism online and at the library
What is Literary Theory?
According to the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, literary theory is "the body of ideas and methods we use in the practical reading of literature. By literary theory we refer not to the meaning of a work of literature but to the theories that reveal what literature can mean. Literary theory is a description of the underlying principles, one might say the tools, by which we attempt to understand literature. All literary interpretation draws on a basis in theory but can serve as a justification for very different kinds of critical activity."
Online Resources
- Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Literary TheoryAn essay on literary theory from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- Introduction to Modern Literary TheoryDr. Kristi Siegel from Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, provides brief descriptions of different literary theories and suggests additional reading material and websites.
- Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab): Writing in LiteratureContains resources for writing about literature across a variety of genres and contexts.
- Voice of the Shuttle: Literary TheoryA comprehensive set of links from Alan Liu's Voice of the Shuttle website.
Read About Literary Theory
Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory by
Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory: The Johns Hopkins Guide is a clear, accessible, and detailed overview of the most important thinkers and topics in the field. Written by specialists from across disciplines, its entries cover contemporary theory from Adorno to Zizek, providing an informative and reliable introduction to a vast, challenging area of inquiry. Materials include newly commissioned articles along with essays drawn from The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism, known as the definitive resource for students and scholars of literary theory and for philosophical reflection on literature and culture.
Call Number: PN81 .C744 2012 (Delivery Desk)
The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism by
The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism has become the indispensable resource for scholars and students of literary theory and discourse. The Guide presents a comprehensive historical survey of ideas and individuals ranging from Plato and Aristotle to twentieth-century scholars. It includes more than 240 alphabetically arranged entries on critics and theorists, critical schools and movements, and the critical and theoretical innovations of specific countries and historical periods. It also examines developments in other disciplines which have shaped literary theory and criticism.
Call Number: REF PN81 .J554 2005
Literary Theory by
This concise and lucid volume offers a satisfying survey of all the major theories, from structuralism in the 1960s to deconstruction today, that have made academic criticism both intriguing and off-putting to the outsider. New York Times Book Review. Literary Theory has the kind of racy readability that one associates more often with English critics who have set their faces resolutely against theory. It's not just a brilliant polemical essay; it's also a remarkable feat of condensation, explication, and synthesis. Sunday Times (London). A concise guide to the most interesting and mystifying trends in the study of literature over the last fifty years. This classic work covers all of the major movements in literary studies in this century. Noted for its clear, engaging style and unpretentious treatment, Literary Theory has become the introduction of choice for anyone interested in learning about the world of contemporary literary thought. On the twenty-fifth anniversary of Literary Theory's debut, Terry Eagleton reflects on the state of theory in academia today, the growth of antitheory (itself an interesting theoretical subject), its common-if problematic-place among survey coursework, and theory's continued relevance to scholarly pursuits. In this contemporary, retrospective moment, as scholars critically analyze the incredibly broad impact of the theoretical movement, Literary Theory remains an essential initiation to the intellectually stimulating world of theoretical analysis. Terry Eagleton is John Edward Taylor professor of English literature at the University of Manchester. His numerous books include The Meaning of Life, How to Read a Poem, and After Theory.
Call Number: PN94 .E2 2008b
