Library Resource Center
Need a refresher about literary theory? The following web sites provide descriptions of literary theories, tips for applying the theory to a work, and additional resourses you may wish to consult.
The Literary Theory Handbook by 
Key Concepts in Literary Theory by "Literary theories were developed as a means to understand the various ways people read texts. ... All literary theories are lenses through which we can see texts." Deborah Appleman
"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."
Literary Theory and Schools of Criticism
OWL at Purdue: Formalism -- Definitions and Questions for Analysis
Primary Critics:
OWL at Purdue: Psychoanalytic -- Definitions and Questions for Analysis
Primary Critics:
OWL at Purdue: New Historicism -- Definitions and Questions for Analysis
Primary Critics:
OWL at Purdue: Post Colonial -- Definitions and Questions for Analysis
Primary Critics:
OWL at Purdue: Marxism -- Definitions and Questions for Analysis
Primary Critics:
Code from these LibGuides pages are a derivative of LibGuides code by UC Santa Cruz University Library, used under CC BY.
