LibGuides: Comparative Literature: Literary Theory

Finding and Understanding Literary Theory

Cambridge History of Literary Criticism (Vols. 1–9)
Volumes span classical criticism to the twentieth century.

Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism This link opens in a new window
Historical survey of critics and theorists, critical schools and movements, and theoretical innovations of specific countries and historical periods.

Literary Theory by Julie Rivkin (Editor); Michael Ryan (Editor)
Call Number: PN45 .L512 2004
ISBN: 9781405106955
Publication Date: 2004-07-23
This anthology includes a survey of relevant schools and traditions within literary theory, ranging from classical texts to recent scholarship from the past few decades. This text also serves as the textbook for Literature 400: Introduction to Literary Theory.

Literary Theory: The Basics
"Covers contemporary topics including: reception theory and reader response theory the new criticism of postmodernism the 'after theory' debate post-humanism, biopolitics and animal studies aesthetics."
The Literary Theory Handbook
A guide to the historical context for different theoretical frameworks and how to write literary analysis that synthesizes historical, thematic, biographical, and practical approaches to literary theory.