The textbook covers the main aspects of modern literary theory. The first two chapters are devoted to general literary criticism, that is, the doctrine of artistic literature and art as such. Further, in the third chapter, the communicative side of literature (the perception of verbal texts and their functioning) is considered. The fourth and fifth chapters are about poetics, which forms the center of the science of literature (the study of the composition and structure of individual works and their groups). And finally, the sixth chapter talks about the genesis of literary creativity and the patterns of development of literature. The textbook discusses the theoretical and methodological positions of major scientists, as well as various scientific directions and schools, both domestic and foreign. Along with the actual literary concepts and terms, such philosophical and general humanitarian categories as aesthetic, value, worldview, personality, culture, myth, hermeneutics, text are also characterized.

For students, graduate students, teachers of philological specialties at universities.