Literary Theory & Criticism

For Students

• Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism (Owl Purdue Online Writing Lab)

  • A very basic way of thinking about literary theory is that these ideas act as different lenses critics use to view and talk about art, literature, and even culture. These different lenses allow critics to consider works of art based on certain assumptions within that school of theory. The different lenses also allow critics to focus on particular aspects of a work they consider important.

• The Blackwell Guide to Literary Theory (Book PDF)

• Introduction to Modern Literary Theory

• "The Story of an Hour" and Critical Approaches to Literature (PDF of PPT)

  • See also the excellent PPT on Supporting the Thesis and Punctuating Quotes

For Teachers

• How Reading Through Literary Lenses Impacts The Quality Of High School Students’ Arguments (PDF Academic Journal Article)

• Telescopes and Spyglasses: Using Literary Theories in High School Classrooms (PDF Academic Journal Article)