literature

Great Readings

This document consists of great books or articles on Literature. Some are here because there is a course covering the same material; some are just great books that you should read at some point in your career.

Once you have made it through most of the curriculum, knowing whether a book is worth your time will become easier. Or, if you are struggling in one of the courses, perhaps reading a book on the subject will help.

Name Author(s)
Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide Lois Tyson
Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction Jonathan Culler
Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays Northrop Frye
Literary Theory: The Basics (free PDF alternative) Hans Bertens
A Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory (free PDF alternative) Raman Selden, Peter Widdowson, Peter Brooker
Literary Theory: A Guide for the Perplexed (free PDF alternative) Mary Klages