Literary Theory

Theory: Introductory

The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism - Vincent B. Leitch – This anthology includes seminal works of literary theory and criticism from various periods and traditions, providing an foundation for understanding the development of literary studies.

The Routledge Companion to Literature and Theory - Michael Ryan and Julie Rivkin – This comprehensive companion covers key theories, movements, and approaches to literary studies, offering a foundation for understanding the field.

Literary Theory: An Introduction - Terry Eagleton -This is a classic introduction to literary theory that covers a wide range of approaches, from structuralism and Marxism to postmodernism and cultural studies.

Literary Theory: An Anthology (Blackwell Anthologies) -Julie Rivkin & Michael Ryan

Ways of Reading: An Anthology for Writers - David Bartholomae and Anthony Petrosky -This anthology provides a comprehensive overview of literary theory, with essays from major theorists like Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida, and Michel Foucault.

The Death of the Author - Roland Barthes - This influential essay argues that the author's intention is irrelevant to the meaning of a text, and that meaning is created through the interaction between reader and text.

Theory: Formalism (est. 1910s-1930s) - Focuses on the form and structure of a text, analyzing elements such as plot, character, and imagery to understand its meaning. Formalism as a literary theory emerged primarily from Russian Formalism and New Criticism.

Theory of Prose (1925) - Viktor Shklovsky - This book introduces the concept of defamiliarization (ostranenie) and discusses the importance of form and structure in literary works.

Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics (1929) - Mikhail Bakhtin - While Bakhtin is not a strict formalist, this book provides insights into the formal aspects of Dostoevsky's novels, such as polyphony and dialogism, which are important concepts in formalist literary theory.

Literature and Revolution (1924) - Leon Trotsky - Although primarily a political work, this book includes discussions on the role of form in literature and the significance of formal experimentation in the arts.

The Formal Method in Literary Scholarship (1926) - Boris Eikhenbaum - This essay outlines the principles of the Russian Formalist approach, focusing on the need for a scientific study of literature that concentrates on its formal elements.

The Poetics of Prose (1971) - Tzvetan Todorov - A work that analyzes the formal aspects of narrative literature, with a focus on the structure, organization, and elements of prose.

New Criticism (1941) - John Crowe Ransom - This influential essay outlines the principles of New Criticism, an American formalist movement that emphasizes close reading and the analysis of a text's formal elements.

The Well-Wrought Urn: Studies in the Structure of Poetry (1947) - Cleanth Brooks - A foundational book in New Criticism, this work provides close readings of canonical poems, emphasizing the importance of formal elements such as irony, paradox, and ambiguity.

The Verbal Icon: Studies in the Meaning of Poetry (1954) - W.K. Wimsatt - This collection of essays, co-authored with Monroe Beardsley, contains several foundational essays on New Criticism, including The Intentional Fallacy and The Affective Fallacy, which argue against considering an author's intentions or the reader's emotions in analyzing a text.

Practical Criticism: A Study of Literary Judgment (1929) - I.A. Richards - This book presents the results of an experiment in which students were asked to analyze poems without any context, emphasizing the importance of close reading and attention to a text's formal elements.

Seven Types of Ambiguity (1930) - William Empson - A foundational work in New Criticism, Empson's book provides a detailed analysis of the ways in which ambiguity functions as a formal element in poetry.

Theory: Semiotics (est. 1910s-1960s) - Studies the use of signs and symbols in literature, focusing on how meaning is generated through the interplay of language, images, and cultural codes.

Course in General Linguistics (1916) - Ferdinand de Saussure - This groundbreaking book introduces the structuralist approach to language, establishing the distinction between langue and parole, and laying the foundation for semiotics as a field of study.

Mythologies (1957) - Roland Barthes - A collection of essays that apply semiotics to the analysis of popular culture and mass media, demonstrating how signs and symbols are used to create meaning.

The Semiotics of Theater and Drama (1980) - Keir Elam - This book explores the application of semiotics to the study of theater and drama, examining the ways in which theatrical signs and symbols contribute to meaning-making in performance.

The Name and Nature of Translation Studies (1972) - James S. Holmes - A seminal essay that defines translation studies as an interdisciplinary field, drawing on semiotics and other disciplines to understand the process of translation and the role of the translator.

Semiotics and the Philosophy of Language (1984) - Umberto Eco - A comprehensive exploration of semiotics and its relationship to philosophy, linguistics, and literary theory, demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of semiotics and its potential applications.

The Empire of Signs (1970) - Roland Barthes - A book that further develops Barthes's semiotic theories by applying them to Japanese culture and exploring the ways in which signs function differently in different cultural contexts.

A Theory of Semiotics (1975) - Umberto Eco - A foundational work that outlines a comprehensive theory of semiotics, incorporating insights from linguistics, philosophy, and cultural theory to provide a unified understanding of how signs and symbols create meaning.

Signs, Sense, and Translation (1964) - Roman Jakobson - An influential essay that discusses the process of translation from a semiotic perspective, arguing that translation involves the transfer of meaning between different sign systems.

The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere (1962) - Jürgen Habermas - A foundational work in communication studies that draws on semiotics to analyze the development of the public sphere and the role of media in shaping public discourse.

Narrative Discourse: An Essay in Method (1972) - Gérard Genette - This book applies semiotic principles to the analysis of narrative structure, introducing concepts such as order, duration, and frequency, which have become central to the study of narrative in literary theory.

Theory: Psychoanalytic Criticism (est. 1920s-1930s) - Applies concepts from psychoanalysis, such as the unconscious, repression, and desire, to the analysis of literature.

The Interpretation of Dreams (1899) - Sigmund Freud - This groundbreaking work introduces the concept of the unconscious mind and its influence on dreams, laying the foundation for psychoanalytic criticism in literature.

The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (1901) - Sigmund Freud - In this book, Freud explores the psychological processes behind seemingly trivial everyday occurrences, providing a framework for understanding the unconscious motivations that underlie human behavior and literary texts.

Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality (1905) - Sigmund Freud - This work introduces key concepts in psychoanalytic theory, such as the Oedipus complex and the pleasure principle, which have informed psychoanalytic literary criticism.

Totem and Taboo (1913) - Sigmund Freud - This book applies psychoanalytic theory to the study of religion and myth, illustrating how these cultural narratives can be understood through the lens of individual and collective unconscious processes.

Beyond the Pleasure Principle (1920) - Sigmund Freud - In this work, Freud introduces the concept of the death drive, which has informed psychoanalytic interpretations of literature that explore themes of destruction, violence, and self-sabotage.

The Ego and the Id (1923) - Sigmund Freud - This book outlines the structure of the human psyche, introducing the concepts of the id, ego, and superego, which have been widely applied in psychoanalytic literary criticism.

Psychoanalytic Criticism: A Reappraisal (1994) - Elizabeth Wright - This book provides an overview of the history, development, and major trends in psychoanalytic criticism, while engaging with key debates and controversies within the field.

Hamlet and Oedipus (1949) - Ernest Jones - A foundational work in psychoanalytic criticism, Jones applies Freudian concepts to the analysis of Shakespeare's Hamlet, arguing that the play's central conflict can be understood as an expression of the Oedipus complex.

The Language of Psychoanalysis (1973) - Jean Laplanche and Jean-Bertrand Pontalis - This comprehensive glossary provides clear definitions and explanations of key terms and concepts in psychoanalytic theory, serving as an essential resource for scholars and students of psychoanalytic criticism.

Desire in Language: A Semiotic Approach to Literature and Art (1980) - Julia Kristeva - This collection of essays introduces key concepts in Kristeva's psychoanalytic theory, such as the semiotic, the symbolic, and abjection, and applies them to the study of literature and art.

Theory: Myth Criticism (est. 1920s-1930s) - Analyzes the use of myth, archetypes, and symbolism in literature to explore universal themes and patterns.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949) - Joseph Campbell - This influential work examines the concept of the "monomyth" or "hero's journey," which posits a common narrative structure underlying myths and stories from various cultures.

The Golden Bough (1890) - Sir James Frazer - A comprehensive study of mythology and religion, this book explores the similarities and patterns found in myths from around the world, particularly focusing on themes of fertility and sacrifice.

The White Goddess (1948) - Robert Graves - In this work, Graves proposes the existence of a universal goddess figure in European mythology, exploring the connections between various myths, poetry, and ancient religious practices.

Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature (1946) - Erich Auerbach - This seminal work of literary criticism examines the representation of reality in literature from ancient times to the 20th century, with a focus on the influence of myth and biblical narratives on Western literature.

The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious (1959) - Carl Gustav Jung - This book introduces Jung's theory of archetypes and the collective unconscious, which have informed myth criticism by suggesting that certain patterns and symbols recur across cultures and throughout history.

The Morphology of the Folktale (1928) - Vladimir Propp - In this groundbreaking work, Propp analyzes the structure of Russian folktales, identifying a set of recurring narrative functions and character types that can be applied to the study of myths and stories from other cultures.

The Structural Study of Myth (1955) - Claude Lévi-Strauss - This influential essay introduces Lévi-Strauss's structuralist approach to the study of myth, arguing that myths can be analyzed in terms of binary oppositions and underlying structures.

The Poetics of Myth (1976) - Eleazar M. Meletinsky - This book provides a comprehensive overview of myth criticism, exploring different theoretical approaches to the study of myth and their application to the analysis of literature.

Myth and Literature (1963) - Richard Chase - A collection of essays that examines the relationship between myth and literature, with a focus on the influence of classical mythology on the Western literary tradition.

Anatomy of Criticism (1957) - Northrop Frye - This influential work of literary criticism proposes a systematic framework for the study of literature, drawing on myth and archetype theory to classify and analyze different genres and narrative structures.

Theory: Genre Theory (est. 1920s-1930s) - Analyzes literature by focusing on specific genres or categories, such as tragedy, comedy, or the novel, examining the conventions, techniques, and historical development of these forms.

Theory: Genre Theory: Magical Realism

Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community (1995) - Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris - This comprehensive collection of essays provides an in-depth exploration of magical realism as a literary genre, examining its theoretical underpinnings, historical development, and cultural significance.

Magical Realism and the Postcolonial Novel (2009) - Christopher Warnes - This book investigates the relationship between magical realism and postcolonial literature, discussing the ways in which magical realism has been used to represent and explore the complexities of postcolonial experience.

The Kingdom of this World (1949) - Alejo Carpentier - This novel by Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier is considered a foundational work of magical realism, and it introduces the concept of "lo real maravilloso" (the marvelous real), which is central to understanding the genre.

Ordinary Enchantments: Magical Realism and the Remystification of Narrative (2004) - Wendy B. Faris - In this work, Faris offers a theoretical framework for understanding magical realism, focusing on the genre's unique ability to blend the fantastical with the everyday in order to create a sense of enchantment and wonder.

One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) - Gabriel García Márquez - This landmark novel is considered one of the most important and influential works of magical realism, and its publication helped to establish the genre as a major force in world literature.

The Postmodern Magical Realist Novel: Mapping a Global Literary Tradition (2021) - Taner Can - This book examines the development and global spread of magical realism in the postmodern era, exploring the genre's connections to postcolonialism, transnationalism, and other literary and cultural movements.

Magical Realism and Deleuze: The Indiscernibility of Difference in Postcolonial Literature (2011) - Eva Aldea - This work applies the philosophical concepts of Gilles Deleuze to the study of magical realism, offering new insights into the genre's representation of difference and its potential for challenging dominant cultural narratives.

The Magical Realism of Latin American Literature (2012) - Rosellen Brewer - This book provides an overview of magical realism in Latin American literature, focusing on the genre's origins, development, and distinctive characteristics, as well as its influence on global literature.

Marvelous Transformations: An Anthology of Fairy Tales and Contemporary Critical Perspectives (2012) - Christine A. Jones and Jennifer Schacker - This anthology pairs classic fairy tales with contemporary critical essays, offering insights into the connections between magical realism and traditional folk and fairy tale narratives.

Theory: Genre Theory: Psychological

The Interpretation of Dreams (1899) - Sigmund Freud - This groundbreaking work introduces the concept of the unconscious mind and its influence on dreams, laying the foundation for the psychological analysis of literature.

The Unconscious as Infinite Sets (1975) - Ignacio Matte Blanco - This book offers a novel perspective on the unconscious mind by applying set theory to the study of psychological processes, providing a framework for understanding the structure and logic of the unconscious as it relates to literary analysis.

The Dialogic Imagination (1981) - Mikhail Bakhtin - This collection of essays introduces Bakhtin's concept of dialogism, which posits that literary works are characterized by a multiplicity of voices and perspectives, reflecting the complexity of human consciousness.

The Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious (1905) - Sigmund Freud - In this work, Freud applies his psychoanalytic theory to the analysis of humor, exploring the psychological mechanisms behind jokes and their potential to reveal unconscious desires and fears.

The Poetics of Mind: Figurative Thought, Language, and Understanding (1993) - Raymond W. Gibbs Jr. - This book explores the cognitive processes underlying metaphor and other figurative language, offering a psychological perspective on the ways in which literature engages the imagination and shapes our understanding of the world.

The Act of Reading: A Theory of Aesthetic Response (1978) - Wolfgang Iser - In this work, Iser develops a reader-response theory of literature, focusing on the psychological processes through which readers engage with texts and create meaning.

The Art of Memory (1966) - Frances A. Yates - This book examines the historical development of mnemonic techniques and their influence on literature and the arts, exploring the psychological dimensions of memory and its role in shaping creative expression.

Narrative and the Self (1993) - Anthony Paul Kerby - This book provides a philosophical and psychological exploration of the relationship between narrative and personal identity, examining the ways in which storytelling shapes our sense of self and our understanding of others.

Metaphors We Live By (1980) - George Lakoff and Mark Johnson - This influential work explores the pervasive role of metaphor in human thought and language, offering a psychological perspective on the ways in which literature reflects and shapes our understanding of the world.

The Implied Reader: Patterns of Communication in Prose Fiction from Bunyan to Beckett (1974) - Wolfgang Iser - This study examines the psychological relationship between the reader and the literary text, exploring the concept of the "implied reader" and its role in shaping the meaning and reception of fiction.

Theory: Genre Theory: Horror

The Philosophy of Horror: Or, Paradoxes of the Heart (1990) - Noël Carroll - This influential work provides a comprehensive analysis of the horror genre, exploring its emotional, cognitive, and aesthetic aspects, as well as the philosophical issues it raises.

Danse Macabre (1981) - Stephen King - In this nonfiction work, acclaimed horror author Stephen King examines the cultural history of horror in various forms, including literature, film, and television, offering insights into the genre's enduring appeal and its most influential works.

Monsters and the Monstrous: Myths and Metaphors of Enduring Evil (2007) - Niall Scott - This collection of essays examines the role of monsters and the monstrous in literature and other cultural forms, exploring the psychological, philosophical, and social dimensions of horror.

Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film (1992) - Carol J. Clover - This groundbreaking work explores the relationship between gender and horror, examining the ways in which the genre reflects and challenges cultural attitudes about gender and power.

The Gothic Tradition (2000) - David Stevens - This book provides an overview of the Gothic tradition in literature and its connections to the horror genre, exploring the historical development, major themes, and cultural significance of Gothic fiction.

American Gothic: New Interventions in a National Narrative (1998) - Robert K. Martin and Eric Savoy - This collection of essays examines the development and significance of the Gothic and horror genres in American literature, exploring their connections to national identity and cultural history.

The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror (1993) - David J. Skal - This book offers a comprehensive cultural history of horror in literature, film, and other media, examining the genre's social and historical contexts and its evolving representations of fear and the monstrous.

The Living and the Undead: From Stoker's Dracula to Romero's Dawn of the Dead (1986) - Gregory A. Waller - In this work, Waller provides an in-depth analysis of the vampire and zombie subgenres of horror, exploring their historical development, cultural significance, and enduring appeal.

Gothic Horror: A Reader's Guide from Poe to King and Beyond (1998) - Clive Bloom - This comprehensive guide to the horror and Gothic genres offers analyses of key works and authors, as well as insights into the development of the genres and their broader cultural impact.

Horror: The 100 Best Books (1988) - Stephen Jones and Kim Newman - This collection compiles essays by various horror authors, critics, and scholars, each discussing one of their favorite horror novels, offering a diverse and insightful overview of the genre's most influential and enduring works.

Theory: Genre Theory: Science Fiction

Metamorphoses of Science Fiction: On the Poetics and History of a Literary Genre (1979) - Darko Suvin - This influential work provides a comprehensive analysis of the science fiction genre, offering a theoretical framework for understanding its literary and historical development.

The Science Fiction Handbook (2009) - M. Keith Booker and Anne-Marie Thomas - This accessible guide offers an overview of the science fiction genre, discussing its key themes, historical development, and major works, as well as providing insights into critical approaches to the genre.

The Science Fiction Studies Reader (2014) - Rob Latham - This anthology brings together a selection of essays by leading scholars in the field of science fiction studies, covering a wide range of topics and approaches to the genre.

The Seven Beauties of Science Fiction (2008) - Istvan Csicsery-Ronay Jr. - This book provides an in-depth exploration of the aesthetic and intellectual dimensions of science fiction, examining the genre's distinctive narrative strategies, themes, and visual elements.

The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One: 1929-1964 (1970) - Robert Silverberg - This anthology collects some of the most influential and groundbreaking science fiction stories from the genre's early years, providing a valuable resource for understanding the historical development of science fiction.

The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction (1979) - Ursula K. Le Guin - In this collection of essays, renowned science fiction and fantasy author Ursula K. Le Guin offers her insights on the craft of writing, the nature of the genres, and the role of the imagination in literature.

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (1993) - John Clute and Peter Nicholls - This comprehensive reference work provides an authoritative and detailed overview of the science fiction genre, covering its history, major works and authors, and critical approaches.

The Road to Science Fiction: From Gilgamesh to Wells (1977) - James Gunn - This anthology, edited by noted science fiction author and scholar James Gunn, traces the development of the genre from its earliest roots in myth and legend to the emergence of modern science fiction in the 20th century.

The Left Hand of Darkness (1969) - Ursula K. Le Guin - This landmark novel by Ursula K. Le Guin is considered a foundational work of feminist science fiction, exploring themes of gender, identity, and the nature of human society.

The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age (1965) - Stanisław Lem - This collection of humorous and philosophical stories by Polish author Stanisław Lem showcases the potential of science fiction as a vehicle for exploring complex philosophical and ethical questions.

Theory: Genre Theory: Feminist Science Fiction

The Female Man (1975) - Joanna Russ - This groundbreaking feminist science fiction novel explores alternate realities and the experiences of four women living in different worlds, addressing themes of gender, identity, and social structures.

The Left Hand of Darkness (1969) - Ursula K. Le Guin - A landmark novel by Ursula K. Le Guin, this work is considered a foundational piece of feminist science fiction, exploring themes of gender, identity, and the nature of human society through its portrayal of a world without fixed gender roles.

The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction (1979) - Ursula K. Le Guin - In this collection of essays, renowned science fiction and fantasy author Ursula K. Le Guin offers her insights on the craft of writing, the nature of the genres, and the role of the imagination in literature, with a particular focus on gender and feminist themes.

Woman on the Edge of Time (1976) - Marge Piercy - This classic feminist science fiction novel follows the experiences of a woman who is able to communicate with a utopian future society, exploring themes of gender, power, and social change.

Daughters of Earth: Feminist Science Fiction in the Twentieth Century (2006) - Justine Larbalestier - This anthology collects works of feminist science fiction alongside critical essays, offering an overview of the development, themes, and significance of the genre from a feminist perspective.

The Feminine Eye: Science Fiction and the Women Who Write It (1982) - Tom Staicar - This book provides an analysis of the works of prominent female science fiction writers, exploring the ways in which their writing engages with feminist themes and challenges traditional genre conventions.

Feminist Philosophy and Science Fiction: Utopias and Dystopias (2007) - Judith A. Little - This anthology brings together feminist science fiction stories and philosophical essays, exploring the connections between these two disciplines and the ways in which they can inform and enrich each other.

Cyberfeminism 2.0 (2012) - Radhika Gajjala and Yeon Ju Oh - This collection of essays examines the intersections of feminism, science fiction, and digital technology, with a focus on the ways in which feminist science fiction can engage with contemporary issues and debates related to gender, identity, and the digital age.

To Write Like a Woman: Essays in Feminism and Science Fiction (1995) - Joanna Russ - This collection of essays by feminist science fiction author Joanna Russ offers critical insights into the genre, with a focus on the ways in which science fiction can engage with feminist themes and challenge traditional gender norms.

Sisters of the Revolution: A Feminist Speculative Fiction Anthology (2015) - Ann and Jeff VanderMeer - This anthology, edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, collects a diverse range of feminist science fiction stories, offering a comprehensive overview of the genre's development, themes, and cultural impact.

Theory: Genre Theory: Post-colonial Science Fiction

Postcolonial Science Fiction and Fantasy: An Introduction (2011) - Nalini Iyer and Bonnie Roos - This book provides an overview of postcolonial science fiction and fantasy, discussing key themes, historical context, and the ways in which the genre engages with postcolonial concerns.

Alien Plots: Female Subjectivity and the Divine in the Light of James Tiptree's 'A Momentary Taste of Being' (2000) - Inez van der Spek - This work explores the connections between postcolonialism, gender, and science fiction, examining Tiptree's work as an example of how the genre can address issues of identity, power, and resistance.

Lost in Space: Probing Feminist Science Fiction and Beyond (1994) - Marleen S. Barr - This collection of essays investigates the intersections of feminism, postcolonialism, and science fiction, highlighting the ways in which the genre engages with themes of power, colonialism, and identity.

Postcolonialism and Science Fiction (2011) - Jessica Langer - This book examines the relationship between postcolonialism and science fiction, exploring how the genre can engage with themes of colonialism, cultural difference, and resistance to dominant power structures.

Afro-Future Females: Black Writers Chart Science Fiction's Newest New-Wave Trajectory (2008) - Marleen S. Barr - In this collection of essays, Barr discusses the works of black female science fiction writers and their contributions to postcolonial literary theory and the science fiction genre.

Science Fiction, Imperialism and the Third World: Essays on Postcolonial Literature and Film (2010) - Ericka Hoagland and Reema Sarwal - This collection of essays explores the intersections of science fiction, imperialism, and postcolonialism, discussing the ways in which the genre can critique and resist colonial power structures.

The Postcolonial Science and Technology Studies Reader (2011) - Sandra Harding - This reader brings together key texts in postcolonial science and technology studies, examining the ways in which science fiction and other genres engage with themes of colonialism, power, and resistance.

Theory: Genre Theory: Philosophical Fiction

The Art of the Novel (1986) - Milan Kundera - This collection of essays by Czech writer Milan Kundera explores the philosophical dimensions of the novel, examining the ways in which fiction can engage with complex ideas and contribute to our understanding of the human experience.

Philosophy and the Novel (2013) - Alan H. Goldman - In this work, Goldman examines the relationship between philosophy and the novel, arguing that fiction can offer unique insights into philosophical issues through its exploration of character, narrative, and the human experience.

The Marriage of Aesthetics and Ethics (2015) - Stephen K. George - This book explores the intersection of aesthetics and ethics in literature, focusing on the ways in which philosophical ideas can be expressed and examined through narrative and fictional form.

Fiction and the Weave of Life (2007) - John Gibson - Gibson provides an exploration of the philosophical significance of literature, arguing that fiction can reveal truths about human experience, morality, and the nature of reality.

Fiction and the Philosophy of Happiness (2010) - Brian Michael Norton - This book examines the relationship between literature and the pursuit of happiness, exploring the ways in which narrative can engage with philosophical ideas about the good life, human flourishing, and the search for meaning.

Philosophy and Literature: An Introduction (1990) - Richard Eldridge - This accessible introduction to the study of philosophy and literature offers an overview of the major themes and debates in the field, providing a foundation for further exploration of the connections between these two disciplines.

Reading for Life: Moral Fiction and the Ethical Imagination (2011) - Martha C. Nussbaum - In this work, Nussbaum examines the ethical dimensions of literature, arguing that fiction can play a crucial role in the development of moral imagination, empathy, and understanding.

The Novel as Philosophy: Studies in French Fiction, 1955-1965 (1969) - John Cruickshank - This book focuses on the philosophical aspects of French fiction during a period of significant experimentation and intellectual engagement, providing an analysis of the ways in which French novelists incorporated philosophical ideas into their work.

The Ethics of Fiction: Reading Responsibly in Imaginative Literature (2018) - Todd R. Long - Long explores the ethical dimensions of reading fiction, examining the ways in which our engagement with literature can influence our moral development and understanding.

Fiction as Philosophy: A Study of Selected Works (1965) - Irving Singer - This book provides an analysis of several works of fiction that engage with philosophical ideas, offering insights into the ways in which literature can contribute to philosophical inquiry and understanding.

Theory: Comparative Literature (est. 1920s-1930s) - Examines literature across national, cultural, and linguistic boundaries, seeking to identify common themes, techniques, and concerns.

Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature (1946) - Erich Auerbach - This groundbreaking work offers a comparative analysis of the representation of reality in literature, spanning from ancient to modern times, and exploring the influence of myth and biblical narratives on Western literature.

The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages (1994) - Harold Bloom - In this influential work, Bloom surveys the Western literary canon, engaging in comparative analysis of major works and authors from various periods, cultures, and traditions.

The World Republic of Letters (2004) - Pascale Casanova - This book proposes a new approach to comparative literature, examining the global literary landscape and the power dynamics that shape it, with a focus on the role of translation and the circulation of texts across cultures.

The Great Code: The Bible and Literature (1982) - Northrop Frye - This study offers a comparative analysis of biblical narratives and their influence on Western literature, demonstrating how the Bible has shaped literary conventions and themes across various genres.

The Anxiety of Influence: A Theory of Poetry (1973) - Harold Bloom - In this groundbreaking work, Bloom develops a theory of poetic influence, exploring the relationships between poets and their predecessors, and examining the ways in which new works of literature engage with and reinterpret earlier texts.

The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences (1966) - Michel Foucault - This influential work examines the historical development of various disciplines, including literature, providing a framework for comparative analysis and exploring the relationships between different fields of knowledge.

The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious (1959) - Carl Gustav Jung - This book introduces Jung's theory of archetypes and the collective unconscious, which has informed comparative literature by suggesting that certain patterns and symbols recur across cultures and throughout history.

Orientalism (1978) - Edward W. Said - A foundational work in postcolonial studies, this book examines the Western representation of the "Orient" in literature and other cultural forms, highlighting the power dynamics at play in cross-cultural encounters and comparative literary analysis.

Comparative Literature in the Age of Multiculturalism (1995) - Charles Bernheimer - This collection of essays discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by multiculturalism for the field of comparative literature, exploring new methodologies and approaches for studying literature across cultures.

The Empire Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Post-Colonial Literatures (1989) - Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin - This book provides a comprehensive introduction to postcolonial theory and its applications in comparative literature, examining the ways in which texts from formerly colonized countries engage with and challenge the Western literary canon.

Theory: Reader-Response Criticism (est. 1930s-1960s) - Focuses on the reader's experience of a text, emphasizing the active role that readers play in constructing meaning.

The Reader, the Text, the Poem: The Transactional Theory of the Literary Work (1978) - Louise M. Rosenblatt - This groundbreaking work introduces Rosenblatt's transactional theory of reading, offering a thorough explanation of the reader-response approach and its implications for literary analysis.

Reading in the Dark: A Reader-Response Approach to Teaching Literature (1997) - John L. Flynn - This resource offers practical applications of reader-response criticism for educators, providing innovative methods for engaging students in the interpretation of literary works through their personal experiences and reactions.

The Act of Reading: A Theory of Aesthetic Response (1976) - Wolfgang Iser - In this influential work, Iser examines the role of the reader in the process of literary interpretation, presenting a comprehensive framework for understanding the reader's active engagement with the text.

The Implied Reader: Patterns of Communication in Prose Fiction from Bunyan to Beckett (1974) - Wolfgang Iser - This book builds on Iser's theories of reader-response criticism, discussing the concept of the "implied reader" and its implications for understanding the relationship between the text and the reader.

Interpreting Literature: An Introduction to Reader-Response Criticism (2002) - Dan Shen - This introductory text offers a clear and concise overview of reader-response criticism, discussing its key principles, methods, and applications in the study of literature.

Theory: Structuralism (est. 1950s-1960s) - Examines the underlying structures that govern literature and language, often exploring patterns, motifs, and binary oppositions.

Structuralism and Literature (1971) - Robert Scholes - This foundational text applies the principles of structuralism to the study of literature, providing a comprehensive overview of the theory and its implications for literary analysis.

Narrative Discourse: An Essay in Method (1980) - Gérard Genette - In this seminal work, Genette presents his theories on narrative structure and the various levels of narration, offering a detailed exploration of how structuralism can be applied to the study of narrative and its underlying structures.

The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere (1962) - Jürgen Habermas - This influential work examines the development of the public sphere in Western societies and its impact on literature, providing a structuralist framework for understanding the relationship between literary works and their social contexts.

The Pleasure of the Text (1973) - Roland Barthes - In this engaging work, Barthes discusses the concept of textual pleasure and the role of the reader, offering a structuralist perspective on the ways in which literary texts produce meaning through their underlying structures.

Literary Theory: An Introduction (1983) - Terry Eagleton - Although not exclusively focused on structuralism, this classic introduction to literary theory dedicates a significant portion of its content to explaining the principles of structuralism and its impact on the study of literature.

Theory: Cultural Studies (est. 1950s-1960s) - Explores the relationship between literature, culture, and power, often incorporating elements of other theories, such as feminist, postcolonial, and Marxist criticism.

The Practice of Cultural Analysis: Exposing Interdisciplinary Interpretation (1999) - Mieke Bal - This influential work introduces the principles and methodologies of cultural analysis, examining the relationship between literature, culture, and society, and providing a comprehensive framework for understanding the role of literature within its cultural context.

Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice (2003) - Chris Barker - This comprehensive text offers an in-depth exploration of the key concepts, theories, and debates within the field of cultural studies, with a particular emphasis on the analysis of literature and other cultural texts.

The Cultural Turn: Selected Writings on the Postmodern, 1983-1998 (1998) - Fredric Jameson - This collection of essays by one of the leading theorists of cultural studies addresses a range of topics related to the field, including the intersection of literature, politics, and culture, and the impact of postmodernism on literary theory.

Literature, Culture, Theory (1996) - Michael Riffaterre and Michael Ryan - This anthology brings together foundational essays in the field of cultural studies, offering a comprehensive introduction to the key debates and theories that have shaped the study of literature within its cultural context.

Cultural Materialism: On Raymond Williams (1995) - Christopher Prendergast - This book provides a critical examination of the work of Raymond Williams, one of the founding figures of cultural studies, and explores his contributions to the field, with a focus on the relationship between literature, culture, and society.

Theory: Race and Ethnicity Studies (est. 1950s-1960s) - Investigates the representation of race and ethnicity in literature, often examining issues of identity, marginalization, and representation.

Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination (1992) - Toni Morrison - In this groundbreaking work, Morrison examines the representation of race, particularly whiteness, in American literature, offering a comprehensive analysis of the ways in which racial ideologies are embedded in literary texts.

Race and Resistance: Literature and Politics in Asian America (2002) - Viet Thanh Nguyen - This book provides an in-depth exploration of the relationship between race, politics, and literature in Asian American communities, offering a comprehensive framework for understanding the role of race and ethnicity in literary studies.

The Signifying Monkey: A Theory of African-American Literary Criticism (1988) - Henry Louis Gates Jr. - This seminal work introduces the concept of "signifyin'" as a distinctive trope in African-American literature, providing a groundbreaking framework for understanding the role of race and ethnicity in the study of literary texts.

Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza (1987) - Gloria Anzaldúa - In this influential work, Anzaldúa explores the concept of mestizaje, or cultural hybridity, in the context of the U.S.-Mexico border, offering a powerful analysis of the ways in which race and ethnicity inform literary texts and their reception.

Critical Race Theory: An Introduction (2001) - Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic - This foundational text offers an introduction to critical race theory, a framework for understanding the relationship between race, law, and power, and its applications to the study of literature and other cultural texts.

An Introduction to Post-Colonial Theatre (1996) - Brian Crow and Chris Banfield - This book provides an in-depth exploration of the relationship between race, ethnicity, and theater, examining the ways in which postcolonial playwrights and theater practitioners have engaged with issues of race, colonialism, and identity in their work.

Theory: Reception Theory (est. 1950s-1960s) - Investigates how literature has been received, interpreted, and valued by readers and critics over time, often considering factors such as cultural context and historical reception.

The Act of Reading: A Theory of Aesthetic Response (1976) - Wolfgang Iser - This influential work examines the role of the reader in the process of literary interpretation, presenting a comprehensive framework for understanding the reader's active engagement with the text.

The Implied Reader: Patterns of Communication in Prose Fiction from Bunyan to Beckett (1974) - Wolfgang Iser - Building on Iser's theories of reader-response criticism, this book discusses the concept of the "implied reader" and its implications for understanding the relationship between the text and the reader.

Reception Study: From Literary Theory to Cultural Studies (2005) - James L. Machor and Philip Goldstein - This collection of essays explores the development of reception theory and its applications in various fields, including literary studies, offering a comprehensive overview of the theory and its key principles.

Reading in Detail: Aesthetics and the Feminine (1987) - Naomi Schor - In this pioneering work, Schor applies reception theory to the study of women's literature, examining the ways in which readers engage with texts and the role of gender in shaping that engagement.

The Horizons of the Literary Text: Reception Theory in the Teaching of Literature (1994) - Wolfgang Iser and Hans Robert Jauss - This work offers a practical application of reception theory in the context of teaching literature, providing innovative methods for engaging students in the interpretation of literary works.

Reception Aesthetics and Reader Response in the Teaching of Fiction (2001) - Nancy Ann Watanabe - This resource offers practical applications of reception theory for educators, focusing on the ways in which teachers can encourage students to develop their own interpretations of literary texts.

Interpreting Reception: A Sociocultural Approach to the Study of Literature (1999) - Susanne Hagemann - This book explores the sociocultural dimensions of reception theory, examining how readers' social and cultural backgrounds inform their interpretations of literary texts.

Theory: Adaptation Theory (est. 1950s-1960s) - Studies the process of adapting literary works into other forms, such as film, television, or theater, exploring issues of fidelity, transformation, and interpretation.

A Theory of Adaptation (2006) - Linda Hutcheon - This comprehensive work explores the process of adapting literary works to other media, such as film, theater, and television, offering a detailed analysis of the theoretical and practical aspects of adaptation.

Adaptation and Appropriation (2006) - Julie Sanders - In this book, Sanders examines the ways in which literature is adapted and appropriated across various media and genres, providing a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of adaptation.

Adaptation Studies: New Approaches (2010) - Edited by Christa Albrecht-Crane and Dennis Cutchins - This collection of essays presents a range of perspectives on adaptation theory, exploring the challenges and opportunities in the study of adaptations across various media and genres.

Literature and Film: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Film Adaptation (2004) - Robert Stam and Alessandra Raengo - This guide offers a comprehensive introduction to the study of literature and film, providing a detailed exploration of the theoretical and practical aspects of film adaptation.

The Politics of Adaptation: Contemporary African Drama and Greek Tragedy (2013) - Astrid Van Weyenberg - In this work, Van Weyenberg examines the adaptation of Greek tragedy in contemporary African drama, offering a unique perspective on the theory and practice of adaptation in a specific cultural context.

Adapting Canonical Texts in Children's Literature (2013) - Anja Müller - This book explores the adaptation of canonical texts in children's literature, offering a detailed analysis of the challenges and opportunities in adapting classic works for young audiences.

Theory: Autobiographical Theory (est. 1950s-1960s) - Analyzes autobiographical texts and the process of self-representation in writing, often focusing on issues of truth, memory, and identity.

Fictions in Autobiography: Studies in the Art of Self-Invention (1985) - Paul John Eakin - This work examines the ways in which autobiographical narratives are shaped by the conventions of fiction, exploring the relationship between self-representation and literary form.

Autobiography: Essays Theoretical and Critical (1980) - James Olney - This collection of essays offers a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of autobiographical writing, including discussions of the genre's historical development, ethical considerations, and narrative strategies.

The Autobiographical Subject: Gender and Ideology in Eighteenth-Century England (1989) - Felicity Nussbaum - This book examines the ways in which gender and ideology shape the construction of autobiographical subjects in eighteenth-century England, offering a detailed exploration of the role of social context in the creation of life narratives.

Life Writing and Literary Métissage as an Ethos for Our Times (2009) - Erika Hasebe-Ludt, Carl Leggo, and Cynthia Chambers - This book explores the concept of "literary métissage" as a framework for understanding autobiographical writing, offering a unique perspective on the relationship between life writing and intercultural understanding.

Metaphors of Self: The Meaning of Autobiography (1972) - James Olney - In this groundbreaking work, Olney explores the metaphorical dimensions of autobiographical writing, examining the ways in which authors use language to construct and convey their sense of self.

Memory and Narrative: The Weave of Life-Writing (1999) - James Olney - This work examines the role of memory in the construction of life narratives, offering a comprehensive analysis of the ways in which autobiographical texts are shaped by the workings of memory.

Autobiography and Postmodernism (1994) - Kathleen Ashley, Leigh Gilmore, and Gerald Peters - This collection of essays explores the relationship between autobiography and postmodernism, offering a range of perspectives on the ways in which postmodern theories have influenced the study and practice of life writing.

Theory: Translation Studies (est. 1950s-1960s) - Investigates the challenges, choices, and implications of translating literary works between languages and cultures, exploring issues of meaning, interpretation, and cultural exchange.

The Translator's Invisibility: A History of Translation (1994) - Lawrence Venuti - This seminal work examines the history and theory of translation, offering a comprehensive analysis of the ways in which translators have approached their task and the cultural and ideological implications of their choices.

Theories of Translation: An Anthology of Essays from Dryden to Derrida (1992) - Edited by Rainer Schulte and John Biguenet - This collection of essays offers a comprehensive overview of translation theory from the seventeenth century to the present day, providing a valuable resource for students and scholars of literary translation.

After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation (1975) - George Steiner - In this groundbreaking work, Steiner explores the relationship between language and translation, offering a detailed analysis of the ways in which language shapes and is shaped by the process of translation.

Translation and Power (2002) - Maria Tymoczko and Edwin Gentzler - This collection of essays examines the relationship between translation and power, offering a range of perspectives on the ways in which translations are influenced by and contribute to power dynamics in various cultural contexts.

Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications (2001) - Jeremy Munday - This comprehensive introduction to translation studies provides a detailed overview of the key theories and approaches in the field, offering a valuable resource for students and scholars of literary translation.

Translation as Transformation in Victorian Poetry (2015) - Annmarie Drury - This book explores the role of translation in Victorian poetry, offering a detailed analysis of the ways in which translations influenced the development of English-language poetic forms and traditions.

Context (1998) - André Lefevere - This book offers a comprehensive examination of the relationship between translation and comparative literature, discussing the ways in which translations can illuminate the connections and differences between literary traditions and cultures.

Theory: Intertextuality (est. 1960s) - Investigates the relationships between texts, exploring how authors borrow, allude to, or reference other works in their writing.

S/Z (1970) - Roland Barthes - In this groundbreaking work, Barthes offers a detailed analysis of a single text, demonstrating the ways in which it can be read and understood through the lens of intertextuality.

The Anxiety of Influence: A Theory of Poetry (1973) - Harold Bloom - This influential work examines the ways in which poets engage with the works of their predecessors, offering a comprehensive analysis of the role of intertextuality in the development of poetic traditions.

Intertextuality (1990) - Graham Allen - This comprehensive introduction to intertextuality provides a detailed overview of the concept and its applications in the study of literature, offering a valuable resource for students and scholars of literary theory.

Desire in Language: A Semiotic Approach to Literature and Art (1980) - Julia Kristeva - This collection of essays offers a comprehensive introduction to Kristeva's theories of intertextuality and the role of desire in the production and reception of literary texts.

Palimpsests: Literature in the Second Degree (1982) - Gérard Genette - In this seminal work, Genette explores the concept of "literature in the second degree," offering a detailed analysis of the ways in which texts engage with and transform other texts.

Intertextuality and the Reading of Roman Poetry (2001) - Lowell Edmunds - This book examines the role of intertextuality in the reading of Roman poetry, offering a detailed analysis of the ways in which Roman poets engaged with and transformed the works of their predecessors.

The Dialogic Imagination: Four Essays (1981) - Mikhail Bakhtin - In this collection of essays, Bakhtin explores the concept of the dialogic imagination, offering a comprehensive analysis of the ways in which literary texts are shaped by and engage with multiple voices and perspectives.

Theory: Feminist Theory (est. 1960s-1970s) - Explores the representation of gender and power dynamics in literature, often examining how women's voices and experiences are marginalized or silenced.

The Second Sex (1949) - Simone de Beauvoir - This seminal work offers a comprehensive analysis of the ways in which women have been oppressed and marginalized throughout history, providing a foundation for the development of feminist literary theory.

The Feminine Mystique (1963) - Betty Friedan - In this groundbreaking work, Friedan examines the ways in which women's roles and identities have been shaped by social expectations and cultural norms, offering a detailed analysis of the role of literature in the construction and perpetuation of these norms.

The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination (1979) - Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar - This influential work examines the ways in which nineteenth-century women writers negotiated the constraints of their time, offering a detailed analysis of the role of gender in shaping the development of literary traditions.

Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity (1990) - Judith Butler - In this groundbreaking work, Butler challenges traditional notions of gender and identity, offering a comprehensive analysis of the ways in which gender is constructed and performed in literature and culture.

Literary Women (1976) - Ellen Moers - This pioneering work examines the ways in which women's experiences have shaped the development of literary traditions, offering a detailed analysis of the contributions of women writers to the canon of Western literature.

Reading the Romance: Women, Patriarchy, and Popular Literature (1984) - Janice A. Radway - In this influential work, Radway examines the role of popular romance novels in shaping women's experiences and identities, offering a comprehensive analysis of the ways in which these texts both reflect and perpetuate patriarchal norms.

Sexual/Textual Politics: Feminist Literary Theory (1985) - Toril Moi - In this groundbreaking work, Moi offers a comprehensive introduction to feminist literary theory, examining the ways in which feminist critics have engaged with and transformed the study of literature. The book explores the intersections of gender, sexuality, and politics in the analysis and interpretation of literary texts.

Theory: Post-Structuralism (est. 1960s-1980s) - Challenges the idea of fixed meanings and structures, instead emphasizing the instability and indeterminacy of language and texts.

Writing and Difference (1967) - Jacques Derrida - This influential collection of essays explores the limitations of structuralism and introduces key concepts in post-structuralist thought, providing a foundation for the development of deconstruction and other post-structuralist theories.

The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge (1979) - Jean-François Lyotard - This book offers a critical examination of the status of knowledge and the role of narrative in contemporary society, arguing that the decline of grand narratives has led to a "postmodern" condition characterized by skepticism and fragmentation.

Of Grammatology (1967) - Jacques Derrida - In this groundbreaking work, Derrida critiques the concept of "writing" and explores the ways in which texts undermine their own claims to meaning, providing a foundation for the development of deconstruction.

The Archaeology of Knowledge (1969) - Michel Foucault - This influential work offers a critique of traditional historical methods and introduces the concept of the "archive" as a way of understanding the organization and production of knowledge in society.

A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia (1980) - Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari - In this ambitious work, Deleuze and Guattari propose a new understanding of human subjectivity and the production of meaning, offering a radical alternative to traditional theories of identity and representation.

Discourse/Counter-Discourse: The Theory and Practice of Symbolic Resistance in Nineteenth-Century France (1985) - Richard Terdiman - This book offers a detailed examination of the ways in which nineteenth-century French writers engaged with and resisted dominant discourses, providing a valuable resource for understanding post-structuralist theories of language and power.

The Limits of Interpretation (1990) - Umberto Eco - In this work, Eco explores the boundaries of interpretation and meaning, offering a comprehensive analysis of the ways in which texts both invite and resist interpretation, and providing a valuable resource for understanding post-structuralist theories of language and meaning.

Theory: Deconstruction (est. 1960s-1980s) - A form of post-structuralism that questions the hierarchical oppositions in a text and emphasizes the play of meanings and the impossibility of absolute interpretation.

Of Grammatology (1967) - Jacques Derrida - This groundbreaking work introduces the concept of deconstruction, offering a radical critique of the ways in which texts create and undermine meaning.

Writing and Difference (1967) - Jacques Derrida - This collection of essays explores key concepts in deconstruction and post-structuralism, providing a foundation for the development of these theories in literary criticism and other disciplines.

Dissemination (1972) - Jacques Derrida - In this work, Derrida examines the concept of dissemination and the ways in which meaning is both produced and dispersed in texts, providing a valuable resource for understanding deconstruction and its implications for literary theory.

Margins of Philosophy (1972) - Jacques Derrida - This collection of essays offers a comprehensive introduction to Derrida's thought, exploring the ways in which his theories of deconstruction have transformed the study of literature and other disciplines.

The Truth in Painting (1987) - Jacques Derrida - In this work, Derrida applies the concept of deconstruction to the study of visual art, offering a comprehensive analysis of the ways in which meaning is both produced and destabilized in the realm of the visual.

Limited Inc (1977) - Jacques Derrida - This collection of essays and interviews provides a comprehensive overview of Derrida's thought and its implications for the study of literature and other disciplines.

Acts of Literature (1992) - Jacques Derrida - In this collection of essays, Derrida explores the ways in which literary texts both invite and resist deconstruction, offering a valuable resource for understanding the implications of his theories for the study of literature.

Theory: Postcolonial Theory (est. 1960s-1990s) - Examines the effects of colonialism on both colonized and colonizing cultures, often addressing issues of race, identity, and representation.

The Empire Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Post-Colonial Literatures (1989) - Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin - This foundational text in postcolonial studies examines the ways in which literature from formerly colonized nations engages with and resists colonial discourses.

Orientalism (1978) - Edward W. Said - In this groundbreaking work, Said explores the ways in which Western representations of the East have perpetuated colonialist attitudes and stereotypes, providing a basis for the development of postcolonial theory.

The Wretched of the Earth (1961) - Frantz Fanon - This seminal work examines the psychological effects of colonization and offers a powerful critique of colonialism, providing a foundation for postcolonial thought.

The Location of Culture (1994) - Homi K. Bhabha - In this influential work, Bhabha explores the concept of cultural hybridity and offers a new understanding of identity in postcolonial societies.

The Postcolonial Critic: Interviews, Strategies, Dialogues (1990) - Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak - In this collection of interviews, Spivak offers a comprehensive introduction to her thought and its implications for postcolonial theory and literary criticism.

Can the Subaltern Speak? (1988) - Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak - In this influential essay, Spivak examines the limitations of postcolonial theory in addressing the voices of the marginalized, providing a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of representation and power in postcolonial literature.

Postcolonial Studies Resources Blog - Emory University

Theory: Ecocriticism (est. 1970s-1990s) - Analyzes the representation of nature, the environment, and human interactions with the natural world in literature, often exploring the ecological implications of literary texts.

The Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology (1996) - Cheryll Glotfelty and Harold Fromm - This influential collection of essays offers a comprehensive introduction to ecocriticism, examining the ways in which literature engages with and reflects upon the natural world.

Silent Spring (1962) - Rachel Carson - This groundbreaking work of environmental literature exposes the dangers of pesticide use and helped to inspire the modern environmental movement, providing a foundation for the development of ecocriticism.

Ecocriticism (2004) - Greg Garrard - This comprehensive introduction to ecocriticism provides an overview of the field's key concepts and debates, offering a valuable resource for understanding the relationship between literature and the environment.

The Environmental Imagination: Thoreau, Nature Writing, and the Formation of American Culture (1995) - Lawrence Buell - In this groundbreaking work, Buell examines the role of nature writing in shaping American culture and offers a new framework for understanding the relationship between literature and the environment.

The Future of Environmental Criticism: Environmental Crisis and Literary Imagination (2005) - Lawrence Buell - In this work, Buell explores the potential of literature to address environmental crises and offers a vision for the future of ecocriticism.

Greening the Maple: Canadian Ecocriticism in Context (2013) - Ella Soper and Nicholas Bradley - This collection of essays offers a comprehensive examination of the ways in which Canadian literature engages with environmental issues, providing a valuable resource for understanding the development of ecocriticism in a national context.

Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor (2011) - Rob Nixon - In this influential work, Nixon examines the ways in which environmental crises disproportionately affect marginalized communities and explores the role of literature in addressing these issues.

The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable (2016) - Amitav Ghosh - In this thought-provoking work, Ghosh explores the limitations of literature in addressing the realities of climate change and offers a powerful critique of the contemporary literary imagination.

Ecology without Nature: Rethinking Environmental Aesthetics (2007) - Timothy Morton - In this work, Morton offers a radical rethinking of the relationship between literature, aesthetics, and the environment, challenging traditional conceptions of nature and proposing a new framework for understanding the role of literature in environmental thought.

Theory: Queer Theory (est. 1980s-1990s) - Investigates the representation and construction of sexuality and gender in literature, often questioning and challenging normative assumptions about these categories.

Gender Trouble (1990) - Judith Butler - In this groundbreaking work, Butler challenges traditional notions of gender and offers a new framework for understanding gender identity and expression.

Epistemology of the Closet (1990) - Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick - This seminal work explores the ways in which sexuality is constructed and understood in Western culture, offering a foundational text for queer theory.

Queer Phenomenology (2006) - Sara Ahmed - This book offers an innovative approach to queer theory by examining the intersections of sexuality, gender, and race through the lens of phenomenology.

Queer: A Graphic History (2016) - Meg-John Barker - This accessible and engaging guide provides a visual introduction to queer theory, covering key concepts and thinkers in the field.

Stone Butch Blues (1993) - Leslie Feinberg - This influential novel provides a powerful exploration of gender, identity, and the complexities of queer life.

Cruising Utopia: The Then and There of Queer Futurity (2009) - José Esteban Muñoz - In this work, Muñoz proposes a new approach to queer theory that focuses on the potential for queer utopian futures.

Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo (1966) - Mary Douglas - This anthropological study offers a new way of understanding how society constructs and enforces boundaries, including those related to sexuality and gender.

Theory: New Historicism (est. 1980s-1990s) - Considers literature as a product of its historical and cultural context, examining the interplay between texts and the societies in which they were produced.

The New Historicism (1989) - H. Aram Veeser - This collection of essays offers an introduction to new historicism, a literary theory that emphasizes the importance of historical context in the analysis of texts.

Practicing New Historicism (2000) - Catherine Gallagher and Stephen Greenblatt - In this work, the authors provide a comprehensive overview of the new historicist approach, along with numerous examples of its application in literary studies.

Shakespearean Negotiations: The Circulation of Social Energy in Renaissance England (1988) - Stephen Greenblatt - This influential work demonstrates the application of new historicism to the study of Shakespeare and the cultural context of Renaissance England.

The Poetics of Sensibility: A Revolution in Literary Style (1996) - Jerome J. McGann - In this book, McGann uses the principles of new historicism to explore the transformation of literary style in the Romantic period.

Literature and the Renaissance Garden from Elizabeth I to Charles II: England's Paradise (1996) - John Dixon Hunt - Hunt applies new historicism to the study of Renaissance garden design, providing a fascinating exploration of the relationship between landscape, literature, and power.

The Anxiety of Influence: A Theory of Poetry (1973) - Harold Bloom - In this work, Bloom offers a new historicist analysis of the relationships between poets and their predecessors, exploring the ways in which literary influence shapes creative expression.

Saint Foucault: Towards a Gay Hagiography (1995) - David M. Halperin - This book uses new historicism to examine the life and work of Michel Foucault, providing a valuable resource for understanding his contributions to literary theory and cultural studies.

Theory: Affect Theory (est. 1980s-1990s) - Examines the role of emotions and feelings in literature, exploring how texts evoke and represent emotional states and experiences.

The Affect Theory Reader (2010) - Melissa Gregg and Gregory J. Seigworth - This collection of essays offers an introduction to affect theory, a field of study that examines the role of emotions and affective experiences in shaping human behavior and social life.

Affective Mapping: Melancholia and the Politics of Modernism (2008) - Jonathan Flatley - In this work, Flatley applies affect theory to the study of modernist literature, offering a new perspective on the relationship between emotion and literary form.

Cruel Optimism (2011) - Lauren Berlant - In this work, Berlant explores the concept of cruel optimism, examining the emotional attachments people form to unattainable desires and the impact these attachments have on their lives.

The Skin of the Film: Intercultural Cinema, Embodiment, and the Senses (2000) - Laura U. Marks - This book applies affect theory to the study of intercultural cinema, offering a new understanding of the relationship between film, emotion, and the body.

Affective Computing (1997) - Rosalind W. Picard - In this pioneering work, Picard explores the potential for computers and other technologies to interpret and respond to human emotions, offering a fascinating look at the intersection of affect theory and technology.

Strange Natures: Futurity, Empathy, and the Queer Ecological Imagination (2013) - Nicole Seymour - This book examines the role of affect and empathy in shaping our understanding of nature and the environment, with a focus on queer perspectives and ecological imagination.

Theory: Disability Studies (est. 1980s-1990s) - Analyzes the representation of disability in literature, often critiquing and challenging stereotypes, assumptions, and societal attitudes towards disabled individuals.

The Disability Studies Reader (1997) - Lennard J. Davis - This influential anthology provides a comprehensive introduction to disability studies, offering a range of perspectives on disability, society, and culture.

Extraordinary Bodies: Figuring Physical Disability in American Culture and Literature (1997) - Rosemarie Garland-Thomson - This groundbreaking work explores the representation of disability in American literature and culture, offering a valuable resource for understanding the role of disability in shaping cultural narratives.

Crip Theory: Cultural Signs of Queerness and Disability (2006) - Robert McRuer - In this work, McRuer examines the intersections of queer and disability studies, offering a new perspective on the relationship between identity, body, and culture.

Mad at School: Rhetorics of Mental Disability and Academic Life (2011) - Margaret Price - In this work, Price explores the experiences of individuals with mental disabilities in academic settings, offering insights into the ways in which mental disability is constructed and negotiated within the academy.

Feminist, Queer, Crip (2013) - Alison Kafer - Kafer examines the intersections of feminist, queer, and disability theory, offering a new perspective on the politics of disability and the ways in which disability is intertwined with gender, sexuality, and identity.

Beasts of Burden: Animal and Disability Liberation (2017) - Sunaura Taylor - In this groundbreaking work, Taylor explores the connections between animal and disability liberation, arguing that the oppression of both disabled people and animals is rooted in a common ideology that values certain bodies and minds over others.

Theory: Spatial Theory (est. 1980s-1990s) - Explores the role of space, place, and geography in literature, considering how texts represent and engage with physical and imagined landscapes.

The Production of Space (1974) - Henri Lefebvre - This seminal work offers a comprehensive analysis of the ways in which space is produced and experienced in society, providing a foundation for spatial theory in literary and cultural studies.

Space, Place, and Gender (1994) - Doreen Massey - In this work, Massey explores the relationship between space, place, and gender, offering a valuable resource for understanding the role of spatiality in the construction of social identities.

The Poetics of Space (1958) - Gaston Bachelard - This classic work examines the ways in which space and place shape human experience and imagination, offering a foundation for spatial theory in literary studies.

Writing Space: The Computer, Hypertext, and the History of Writing (1991) - Jay David Bolter - In this influential work, Bolter examines the impact of digital technology on writing, offering insights into the ways in which the computer has transformed our understanding of space, text, and authorship.

The Practice of Everyday Life (1980) - Michel de Certeau - This classic work offers an exploration of the ways in which individuals navigate and negotiate space in their everyday lives, providing a valuable resource for understanding the role of spatiality in shaping human experience.

The Location of Culture (1994) - Homi K. Bhabha - In this groundbreaking work, Bhabha explores the concept of cultural hybridity, examining the ways in which space, identity, and power intersect in the production of cultural meaning.

Theory: Animal Studies (est. 1990s-2000s) - Investigates the representation of non-human animals in literature, examining issues such as anthropocentrism, empathy, and the human-animal relationship.

Animal Rites: American Culture, the Discourse of Species, and Posthumanist Theory (2003) - Cary Wolfe - This work offers a comprehensive introduction to animal studies, examining the role of animals in American culture and the ways in which they have been represented in literature and other media.

Zoontologies: The Question of the Animal (2003) - Cary Wolfe - In this collection of essays, leading scholars explore the intersections of philosophy, culture, and animal studies, offering a range of perspectives on the ways in which humans and animals are entangled in social and cultural life.

Animals and Society: An Introduction to Human-Animal Studies (2012) - Margo DeMello - This accessible and engaging introduction to human-animal studies covers key concepts, issues, and debates in the field, offering a valuable resource for students and scholars interested in the relationships between humans and animals.

The Animal That Therefore I Am (2006) - Jacques Derrida - In this influential work, Derrida examines the relationship between humans and animals, offering insights into the ways in which the animal has been constructed as the "other" within Western philosophical thought.

When Species Meet (2007) - Donna Haraway - In this work, Haraway explores the complex relationships that exist between humans and animals, offering a new perspective on the ways in which humans and animals interact, communicate, and coexist.

Making a Killing: The Political Economy of Animal Rights (2007) - Bob Torres - In this critical examination of the animal rights movement, Torres argues that the exploitation of animals is intimately connected to the broader structures of capitalism and oppression, offering a valuable resource for understanding the intersections of animal rights, politics, and social change.