ABSTRACT

With a new introduction and fully updated pointers to further reading, this second edition of Hans Bertens’ bestselling book is a must-have guide to the world of literary theory.

Exploring a broad range of topics from Marxist and feminist criticism to post-modernism and new historicism it includes new coverage of:

  • the latest developments in post-colonial and cultural theory
  • literature and sexuality
  • the latest schools of thought, including eco-criticism and post-humanism
  • the future of literary theory and criticism.

Literary Theory: The Basics is an essential purchase for anyone who wants to know what literary theory is and where it is going.

chapter 4|30 pages

POLITICAL READING: The 1970s and 1980s

chapter 8|23 pages

POSTCOLONIAL CRITICISM AND THEORY

chapter 7|18 pages

SEXUALITY, LITERATURE, AND CULTURE

chapter 10|15 pages

ECOCRITICISM

chapter 11|4 pages

CONCLUSION