Defines hundreds of important literary and critical terms from classical times to the present, through examples uniquely drawn from contemporary literary and popular culture.

Contains a complete glossary of essential literary terms presented as a series of essays that explore the terms, place them in context. Covers terms useful in discussing literature and literary history, theory, and criticism.

Includes more than 240 alphabetically arranged entries on critics and theorists, critical schools and movements, and the critical and theoretical innovations of specific countries and historical periods. It also examines developments in other disciplines which have shaped literary theory and criticism.

Dictionary of places, groups, movements, critical terms, genres, periods, character types, and other literary terms associated with English and American literature. Does not include biographies, plot summaries or characters.

Survey of the most important terms of postmodernist literary theory.