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Literary Theory

This guide is meant to be an introduction to 20th century literary theory. While it does list books from the first part of the century, its emphasis is on the years following the 1950's when literary theory came into its own.

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Subject Searching in Bobcat

In addition to keyword searching, or searching by title and author, you may search Bobcat by subject heading, in order to make use of the catalog's controlled vocabulary. Subject headings are assigned to published material by the Library of Congress. They can be very broad, consisting of one word, for example, literature or postmodernism or postcolonialism, but they also tend to link terms together, specifying what a work is about according to theme, period, geographical region, etc. Examples of more specific subject headings related to literary theory might include:

  • Literature--history and criticism--theory, etc.
  • Postmodernism(literature)--United States
  • Gender identity in literature
In general, if you are looking for criticism related to an individual (writer, performer, artist, etc), you can add a hyphen to the person's name and attach criticism and interpretation, then search as a subject heading. If you are looking for criticism of a theme or literary or artistic movement, you can attach the phrase history and criticism. For example:
  • Carter, Angela, 1940--Criticism and interpretation
  • Fantasy fiction--history and criticism

You could also do a keyword search, combining the terms fantasy and criticism, both as subject heading terms.
If you are looking at a theme in art or literature, the relevant subject heading may consist of the theme plus the phrase in literature or in art, such as:

  • Postcolonialism in Literature
  • Mysticism in Art

You may also search by national literature:

  • French literature--History and criticism--Theory, etc.
  • German literature--History and criticism--Theory, etc.

Or you may search by country:

  • Criticism--France--History--20th Century

Subject headings related to individual schools of thought that may be of interest include:

Deconstruction Feminist Criticism Marxist Criticism
New Criticism
 Structuralism (Literary Analysis)
 Semiotics
Hermeneutics Formalism (Literary Analysis)
 Reader-response Criticism
Phenomenology Poststructuralism Postcolonialism

 

 

Bibliographies

  • Marshall, Donald G. Contemporary Critical Theory: A Selective Bibliography. New York: The Modern Language Association of America, 1993.
    Bobst Ref 1 Z6514 .C97 M37 1993

    The single best volume for research on literary theory. A scholarly, thorough, intelligently annotated bibliography with whole sections devoted to individual schools/theories and theorists. It lists only books in English and no journal articles. This title and the Makaryk encyclopedia (see above) are the fundamental resources in the field.

  • Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature for [year]. 1920 to date.
    Electronic Access via Literature Online, updated monthly
    http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html

    Slower to appear than the MLA Bibliography but a useful supplement because it lists references omitted from the MLA. Since 1985, it has had an entire section devoted to literary theory. Cleanly and clearly organized. Also lists dissertations and reviews. Can be accessed via the "Criticism & Reference" link on Literature Online's main page. Once on Literature Online's "Criticism & Reference" page, change your search to "Criticism" by clicking the "Criticism" link, then choose "ABELL search" in the "Criticism options."

  • Modern Language Association of America. MLA International Bibliography of Books and Articles on the Modern Languages and Literatures. New York: Modern Language Association of America.
    Bobst Ref 1 Z7006 .M64, 1921 to 1962 (annual)
    Electronic Access, 1963 to date (updated 10 times per year)
    http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html

    Either in its online or paper version, an indispensable source for books and articles on literary theory. Since 1981, it has tried to include books and articles not only in English, but in all major languages.

  • Orr, Leonard, comp. Research in Critical Theory Since 1965: A Classified Bibliography. Westport: Greenwood, 1989.
    Bobst Ref 1 Z6514 .C97 O77 1989 and
    Bobst Stacks Z6514 .C97 O77 1989

    Over 5,000 books, articles and dissertations in English, French and German. An especially useful supplement to Marshall, since he does not list journal articles.

Surveys and Introductions

  • Richter, David H., ed. The Critical Tradition: Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends. New York: St. Martin's, 1989.
    Bobst Ref 1 PN81 .C844 1998

    Written to be used as a textbook, this is a superb introduction to literary theory. The first 500 pages are devoted to "Classic Texts," while the remaining 900 deal with the various branches of contemporary theory. Each section is preceded by a literate, quite readable introduction followed by salient essays by individual theorists. Bibliographies follow introductions as well as essays.

  • Jefferson, Ann, and David Robey, eds. Modern Literary Theory: A Comparative Introduction. 2nd ed. London: Batsford, 1986.
    Bobst PN94 .M6 1986

    Eight well-written essays on the most prominent schools, including Structuralism, Russian Formalism and Marxist literary theories. Good bibliography of primary and secondary sources, including some journal articles.

  • Selden, Raman, Peter Widdowson, and Peter Brooker. A Reader's Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory. 5th ed. Harlow, England: Pearson Longman, 2005.
    Bobst Ref 1 PN94 .S45 2005 and
    Bobst Stacks PN94 .S45 2005

    Popular work by the late scholar, revised by Widdowson. Bibliography follows each chapter about individual schools/theories.

  • Webster, Roger. Studying Literary Theory: An Introduction. London: Edward Arnold, 1996.
    Bobst PN86 .W35 1996

    Essays on the fundamentals and background of literary theory, including "What is Literary Theory" in which, among other things, the distinction between literary criticism and literary theory is made. Short bibliography.

Dictionaries

  • Cuddon, J.A. A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory . 3d ed. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Reference, 1991.
    Bobst Ref 1 PN41 .C83 1991

    A big (1051 p.) book with over 2,000 terms that goes far beyond literary theory. Here, you will find "Satire" as well as "Structuralism." Comprehensive.

  • Fowler, Roger, ed. A Dictionary of Modern Critical Terms . London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1987.
    Bobst Ref 1 PN41 .D4794 1987 and
    Bobst Stacks PN41 .D4794 1987

    Though brief and avowedly non-inclusive, the lucid and, at times, witty prose is a pleasure. Very instructive.

  • Harris, Wendell V. Dictionary of Concepts in Literary Criticism and Theory . New York: Greenwood Press, 1992.
    Bobst Ref 1 PN41 .H36 1992

    Very good. Each concept/theory is first given a very brief and helpful definition; followed by an overview; and finally, a fuller explanation. Bibliographies.

  • Hawthorn, Jeremy. A Glossary of Contemporary Literary Theory. 4th ed. London: Edward Arnold, 2000.
    Bobst Ref 1 PN44.5 .H37 2000

    Has an informative introduction, in which various terms are linked to specific schools and approaches. Bibliographies.

Encyclopedias

  • Makaryk, Irena R., ed. Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theory: Approaches, Scholars, Terms. Toronto: U. Toronto Press, 1993.
    Bobst Ref 1 PN81 .E515 1993

    Highly recommended for any level of research. Lucid, in-depth essays on all major literary theories, personalities and terms by one hundred and seventy scholars from around the world. This book and the Marshall bibliography (see below) should be the rocks upon which to build your research. Bibliographies with primary and secondary sources. Index. Cross references and see-also references.

  • Groden, Michael, Martin Kreisworth, and Imre Szeman, eds. The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory & Criticism. 2nd ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins U. Press, 2005.
    Bobst Ref 1 PN81 .J554 2005

    Signed essays on theories and theorists by leading scholars. This is a useful volume, published by perhaps the epicenter of literary theory, and so should not be ignored. But it has its flaws: no table of contents and an index of names and topics which is often hard to follow. Also, its bibliographies are difficult to read, because they are written as text.

Journals

Important current work will be found in professional journals rather than in books. Here are six which are indispensable for following current trends. (For others, consult Marshall.) All of these journals are indexed in the MLA International Bibliography which is accessible through the library's database page at:
http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_articles_title.html

 

NOTE: Current issues of these journals are located on the 3rd Floor in the Current Periodicals Center. They are arranged alphabetically, not by call number. Back issues are shelved in the stacks by their call number. Check out the How to Find a Book tutorial if you need further assistance. Electronic content for these journals, when available, can be accessed by clicking the links below or by searching for each journal by title at:
http://library.nyu.edu/collections/find_ejournals.html.

  • Critical Inquiry. Published by the University of Chicago.
    Bobst NX1 .C64, 1974 to date
    Electronic Access via JSTOR, 1974 to 2002
    Electronic Access via University of Chicago Press, 2002 to date

    Leading journal which publishes different points of view.

  • Diacritics. Published by Cornell University.
    Bobst PN80 .D5, 2000 to date
    Electronic Access via JSTOR, 1971 to 1999
    Electronic Access via Project Muse, 2000 to 2003

    Its Summer 1995 issue has a useful index of interviews and special issues published in its 25-year history.

  • PMLA. Published by the Modern Language Association.
    Bobst PB6 .M6, 2000 to date
    Electronic Access via JSTOR, 1884 to 2001

    Dedicated to publishing a variety of views with high standards of scholarship. Articles by MLA members only.

  • Representations. Published by the University of California, Berkeley.
    Bobst NX1 .R46, 2000 to date
    Electronic Access via JSTOR, 1983 to 2001
    Electronic Access via Caliber, 2001 to date

    Emphasizes new historicism.

  • Signs. Published by the University of Chicago.
    Bobst HQ1101 .S5, 1999 to date
    Electronic Access via JSTOR, 1975 to 2002
    Electronic Access via University of Chicago Press, 2002 to date

    The leading feminist journal. The Winter 1996 Supplement indexes 1975-1995.

  • Tel Quel.
    Bobst AP20 .T38, 1960 to 1982

    Extremely influential French journal published from 1960 to 1982. In it, many of the groundbreaking essays on literary theory first appeared.



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