This third edition of Hans Bertens' bestselling book is an essential guide to the often confusing and complicated world of literary theory. Exploring a broad range of topics from Marxist and feminist criticism to postmodernism and new historicism Literary Theory: The Basics covers contemporary topics including:reception theory and reader response theorythe new criticism of postmodernismthe 'after theory' debatepost-humanism, biopolitics and animal studiesaestheticsLiterary Theory: The Basics helps r.