"Routledge Companion of Critical Theory" is an indispensable guide for anyone coming to this exciting field of study for the first time. Exploring ideas from a diverse range of disciplines, this clearly presented text encourages the reader to develop a deeper understanding of how to approach the written word. Defining what is generically referred to as 'critical theory', "Routledge Companion of Critical Theory" explores some of the most complex and fundamental concepts in the field, ranging from historicism to postmodernism, from psychoanalytic criticism to race and postcolonialism. The key features include: clear and detailed introductory chapters written by experts in each area; almost 200 fully cross-referenced dictionary entries; a range of illustrations drawn from literature, film and contemporary culture, which illustrate complex theoretical ideas; a dictionary of terms and thinkers that students are likely to encounter; and guidance on further reading to direct students towards crucial primary essays and introductory chapters on each concept. Tailored to meet the needs of undergraduate students when they first encounter theory, as well as when their knowledge and experience develop and they want to know where to go next, this is the ideal resource for those studying this fascinating area.