Research Guides: *Literary Studies: Literary theory and Literary criticism

Online resources

Purdue OWL introduction to literary theory
A great resource that introduces important concepts and figures, as well as the types of questions each approach asks
Literary theory, from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosopy
A collection of good short descriptions of major literary theories
A Bibliography of Literary Theory, Criticism and Philology
Major Schools of Literary Theory - Student Guide
Introduction to Modern Literary Theory
Created and maintained by Dr. Kristi Siegel
Associate Professor, English Dept.
Director, English Graduate Program
Chair - Languages, Literature, and Communication Division
Mount Mary College
Literary criticism: Questions for a variety of approaches
A handout that gives good suggestions of questions certain approaches consider

The library has access to a number of texts that introduce literary theory. Below is a sampling of the print books available in the library:

The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism by Michael Groden (Editor); Martin Kreiswirth (Editor); Imre Szeman (Editor)
Call Number: PN81 .J554 2005
ISBN: 9780801880100
Publication Date: 2004-12-10
A classic guide to literary theory
Literary Theory by Mary Klages
Call Number: PN81 .K53 2006
ISBN: 9780826490728
Publication Date: 2007-01-23
Literary Theory by Jonathan Culler
Call Number: PN81 .C857 2011
ISBN: 9780199691340
Publication Date: 2011-08-11
How to Interpret Literature by Robert Dale Parker
Call Number: PN94 .P37 2011
ISBN: 9780199757503
Publication Date: 2011-07-18
An introduction to major theories and movements

Below is a sampling of available ebooks:

The Literary Theory Handbook by Gregory Castle
ISBN: 9781118332474
Publication Date: 2013-05-20
A good quick introduction to literary theory and major theorists
Literary Theory by Hans Bertens
ISBN: 9781135052980
Publication Date: 2013-10-08
An introductory text on literary theory, chronologically organized
A Companion to Literary Theory by David H. Richter
ISBN: 9781118958735
Publication Date: 2018-02-16
A collection of essays on major literary theories and theorists arranged topically rather than chroniologically
The Literary Theory Toolkit by Herman Rapaport
ISBN: 9781405170482
Publication Date: 2011-05-06
An introduction to literary analysis that incorporates literary theory