Who decided that Queen Victoria got her own era? Why do we call it Modernism when it happened over a century ago? And how come a bunch of drug addicts got to call themselves Beats and make the canon to boot? These guides dig in to what makes these literary movements worthy of the title.
Literary theory is a wonky world where monocle-sporting people say things that not even they understand. Our guides are here to bring this stuff down to earth and show you how it might actually be—gasp!—useful.
Literary critics are tough nuts to crack, but Shmoop's got VIP access to their online profiles. These guides will give you a sneak peek into the lives and thoughts of the men and women behind the tweed.