Here is a source of clearly presented and authoritative definitions of some of the most significant and often difficult to grasp terms and concepts currently used in the study of literary theory. Key Concepts brings together terms from many areas of literary theory, including cultural studies, psychoanalysis, poststructuralism, marxist and feminist literary studies, postcolonialism, and other areas of identity politics with which literary studies concerns itself. In addition, the volume provides accessible discussions of the main areas of literary, critical, and cultural study, supported by bibliographies and a chronology of the contributions of major critics in studies of literature today.