Critical Theory in Literature
Recommended Website: The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
*Note: The internet, as a whole thing, is undoubtedly the best of times and the worst of times (Dickens, 1859); but what we have here in "The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy" (TIEP) is surely some of the best! TIEP is a free online collection of guides to critical theory created by university professors from around the globe. Every article is reviewed by other qualified academics, meaning it is a reliable source of high-quality information.
Click here to visit the Literary Theory Homepage of The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
[Introduction to] Literary Theory
“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. It is literary theory that formulates the relationship between author and work; literary theory develops the significance of race, class, and gender for literary study, both from the standpoint of the biography of the author and an analysis of their thematic presence within texts. Literary theory offers varying approaches for understanding the role of historical context in interpretation as well as the relevance of linguistic and unconscious elements of the text. Literary theorists trace the history and evolution of the different genres—narrative, dramatic, lyric—in addition to the more recent emergence of the novel and the short story, while also investigating the importance of formal elements of literary structure. Lastly, literary theory in recent years has sought to explain the degree to which the text is more the product of a culture than an individual author and in turn how those texts help to create the culture."
"The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy... was founded in 1995 to provide open access to detailed, scholarly, peer-reviewed information on key topics and philosophers in all areas of philosophy. The Encyclopedia receives no funding, and it operates through the volunteer work of the editors, authors, volunteers, and technical advisers. The Encyclopedia is free of charge and available to all users of the Internet worldwide. The staff of 30 editors and approximately 300 authors hold doctorate degrees and are professors at universities around the world".
Table of Contents
Image Below: Notice the reading lists on the bottom of the Literary Theory page, this is a good source of key readings and theorists. Use the search tool on the TIEP website to find related articles connecting to theories or theorists.
Other Key Sources of Literary Critical Theory
Introductory Guide to Critical Theory Written and Designed by Dino Franco Felluga / PURDUE University
This is an older (2002'ish) website, sometimes you need to look around pages to find buttons to sections of the website, each section, eg. Gender & Sex, has subpages including General Introduction, Terms & Concepts, Sample Applications (with samples linked on left), be adventurous and explore the sections to find the goodies.
Includes sections on Gender & Sex, Marxism, Narratology, New Historicism, Postmodernism, and Psychoanalysis.
There is also a guide to this site, this may be more suitable for teachers.
Literary Criticism; produced by The University of Texas, Arlington.
Note: this is a multi-page guide, notice the blue tabs running across near the top of the page: Introduction, Literary Theories, Steps to Literary Criticism, Find Resources (more resources),
Introduction to Theory of Literature: Free Online Yale University with Professor Paul H. Fry
This a free university-level course, here is a description: "is a survey of the main trends in twentieth-century literary theory. Lectures will provide background for the readings and explicate them where appropriate while attempting to develop a coherent overall context that incorporates philosophical and social perspectives on the recurrent questions: what is literature, how is it produced, how can it be understood, and what is its purpose?
You can dip in and out of these resources, you do not need to do the whole course. to access course materials you can go to the following page: Introduction, then look for the tab "Sessions", this is your way to access each lecture, there is typically an overview description, a video lecture, plus a downloadable pdf in Resources.
Databases for English / Critical Theory
The State Library of NSW provides you with access to many quality databases that will be excellent sources of information relating to critical theory and literature. Databases that will be more helpful include:
Accessing Databases Refresher Course
If you are learning about critical theory in the context of literature, you will benefit from accessing academic databases (journals). If you do not already have a membership card/number for the State Library of NSW go here for instructions and a link to the State Library.
If you have not had a whole class lesson using databases with Mr Jones in the library, you have two options:
When you have a study period, book in for a quick lesson, then as you practise, you can ask for help if needed.
Go to the SHHS Databases page, skim through the text, watch the video tutorial
Using the ADVANCED SEARCH tool within academic databases can really speed up your search process, click here for a quick guide, or go to JSTOR for their guide (including a video). This is especially helpful for finding articles on a book that you are interested in, plus adding a specific critical theory name.