Literary Theory
"Theory before theory" or, "What do we do with literature?"
This is a set of lecture notes by Dr Mary Klages, Associate Professor of English at the University of Colorado. It provides a good, readable introduction to literary theory by explaining how literary theory started to challenge previously widely-held beliefs about literature. Other lecture notes focusing on particular theories and theorists follow on this site.

Literary Theories: A Sampling of Critical Lenses
In this site, Deborah Appleman provides a brief outline some of the most common schools of literary theory.

The Voice of the Shuttle Literary Theory Page
This excellent collection of links includes literary and media theory sites of all kinds from the most basic and introductory to the most esoteric.

Introduction to Modern Literary Theory
Dr Kristi Siegel’s explanations provide a brief introduction to modern literary theory, including New Criticism, Psychoanalytic Criticism, Marxism, Poststructuralism, Reception and Reader-Response theory. The explanations are very short, but further reading suggestions and relevant websites are listed.

ENGL 4F70: Contemporary Literary Theory
Professor John Lye presents information on contemporary literary theories for first and second year students of the Department of English at Brock University. He includes a brief but useful explanation of the differences between literary criticism and literary theory.

On the Teaching of Literary Theory
This article by D.G.Myers argues against teaching literary theory (presumably to tertiary students) as though it is fact. The author suggests a more argumentative, problematic approach to teaching theory is more consistent with the notion of theory.

Theory
Theory sites can be ponderously serious, but Theory isn’t. It’s worth visiting this site dealing with theory, gender, identity and mass media for the ‘Trading Cards’ and ‘Action Dolls’ sections alone. This is part of the description of the Michel Foucault doll:

Keenly aware of the fluidity of social identities, this 6.5" Michel Foucault waves his baton in poststructuralist style at all challenges