This class will provide an introduction to some of the major currents in contemporary literary theory. We will begin with a background in humanism, hermeneutics and phenomenology and subsequently investigate the development of ideas in the areas that are generally perceived as the core of modern literary theory: Formalism, New Criticism, Structuralism, Marxism, Psychoanalysis, Post-Structuralism. By the end of the quarter, we will also move into more contemporary areas including New Historicism, Cultural Studies, Feminist Literary Criticism, Gender Studies, Post-Colonial Studies and Multiculturalism.