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It is an introduction to Literary Theory, just as the title of the text says. It provides a history of literary theories along with critical reactions and interpretations. I cannot fault it for that.

The problem with this text is twofold, if a problem at all and not merely a petty complaint on my part: 1) the text does not provide any qualitative examples of how to conduct criticism and analysis within the theory (too focused on history of the theories) and 2) the text does not present any solid reasoning for legitimizing these critical theories nor how to implement them purposefully.

I do not need them to tell why they're interesting, or why they may be personally edifying to use as an academic exercise, to stretch the mind and boundaries of thought, but I want to know why I should concern myself with these theories as it applies to actually understanding the world or a given text. At some point, many of the theories become square-peg, round-hole issues and it becomes an issue of reader-intentionality on the text.

It's the old argument that "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." - not Freud