Includes bibliographical references and index.

Classical literary criticism -- The traditions of rhetoric -- Greek and Latin criticism during the Roman Empire -- The early middle ages -- The later middle ages -- The early modern period -- Neoclassical literary criticism -- The enlightenment -- The aesthetics of Kant and Hegel -- Romanticism -- Realism, naturalism, sybolism, and aestheticism -- The heterological thinkers -- From liberal humanism to formalism -- Socially conscious criticism of the earlier twentieth century -- Phenomenology, existentialism, structuralism -- The era of poststructuralism (I) : later Marxism, psychoanalysis, deconstruction -- The era of poststructuralism (II) : postmodernism, modern feminism, gender studies -- The later twentieth century : new historicism, reader-response theory, postcolonial criticism, cultural studies.

"Literary Criticism from Plato to the Present presents a concise and authoritative overview of the development of Western literary criticism and theory. Encapsulates the major movements, figures, and texts of literary criticism; Provides historical context and shows the interconnections between various theories; An ideal text for all students of literature and criticism"--Provided by publisher.

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