THEORY.

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  • Author(s): J.M.E.
  • Source:
    New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry & Poetics. 1993, p1282-1290. 9p.
  • Additional Information
    • Subject Terms:
      Literary theory; Theory; Culture; Textual criticism; Literary errors & blunders; Terms & phrases
    • Abstract:
      The article presents a definition of the term THEORY. Th. of crit. may reasonably be said to include any reflection upon or analysis of general issues which arise in the crit. or study of lit., e.g. questions of the nature and function of lit. and its relation to other aspects of a culture; of the purposes, procedures and validity of crit.; of the relation of literary texts to their authors and historical contexts; of the meaning and value of literary texts (see TEXTUALITY); of the nature and importance of genres (see GENRE); and many others. There are two modes of theoretical work: the one is advocative or assertive, the other analytical.