• Previous edition sold 114,000 copies
• Revised and updated, including new material about the 'death of theory'; the links between the theory of narrative and cognitive science; trauma theory; and ecocriticism, as well as a new chapter on 'Ethics and Aesthetics'
• A short and clear exposition of a notoriously difficult subject matter
• Instead of offering summaries of theories, it explores particular problems and approaches to solving them, including aspects of language, identity, and meaning
• Jonathan Culler is an extremely lucid commentator, much admired in the field of literary theory
• An understanding of literary theory is useful to students of any literature, making this an excellent introduction for literature undergraduates
• Part of the bestselling Very Short Introductions series - over three million copies sold worldwide

New to this edition

• Includes new material looking at the 'death of theory'; the links between the theory of narrative and cognitive science; trauma theory; and ecocriticism, as well as a new chapter on 'Ethics and Aesthetics'
• Updated bibliographies

What is literary theory? Is there a relationship between literature and culture? In fact, what is literature, and does it matter? 

These are some of questions addressed by Jonathan Culler in this Very Short Introduction to literary theory. Often a controversial subject, said to have transformed the study of culture and society in the past two decades, literary theory is accused of undermining respect for tradition and truth and encouraging suspicion about the political and psychological implications of cultural projects rather than admiration for great literature. 

Here, Jonathan Culler explains 'theory', not by describing warring 'schools' but by sketching key 'moves' theory has encouraged, and speaking directly about the implications of theory for thinking about literature, human identity, and the power of language. In this new edition Culler takes a look at new material, including the 'death of theory', the links between the theory of narrative and cognitive science, trauma theory, ecocriticism, and includes a new chapter on 'Ethics and aesthetics'. This lucid introduction is useful for anyone who has wondered what all the fuss is about or who wants to think about literature today.