Bharata Muni's Natya Shastra is an ancient Sanskrit treatise on dramaturgy and performance. It introduces the concept of rasa, or aesthetic experience, as the primary goal of dramatic art.

The Alankara Siddhanta is a school of Indian literary theory that focuses on the use of alamkaras or figures of speech as the primary means of achieving aesthetic pleasure in literature.

The Riti Siddhanta is a school of Indian literary theory that emphasizes the importance of style and diction in creating effective literary expression.

The Vakrokti Siddhanta is a school of Indian literary theory that emphasizes the importance of vakrokti or oblique expression as the primary means of achieving aesthetic pleasure in literature.

Harimohan Jha is widely regarded as the father of modern Indian literary criticism. His pioneering work, Hindi Sahitya Ka Itihas, laid the foundation for the systematic study of Indian literature.

Marxist criticism is a critical approach that emphasizes the social and historical context of literary works, examining how they reflect and shape class struggle and economic structures.

Structuralist literary theory focuses on the underlying structures and patterns within literary texts, examining how they create meaning and significance.

Postcolonial criticism examines the relationship between literature and colonialism, exploring how literary texts reflect and challenge the power dynamics and cultural legacies of colonialism.

Deconstructive literary theory challenges binary oppositions and fixed meanings in literary texts, exploring how they are constructed and subverted.

Reader-Response Criticism emphasizes the role of the reader in creating meaning, exploring how individual readers interpret and respond to literary texts.

Feminist literary theory examines gender and power dynamics in literary texts, exploring how they reflect and challenge patriarchal structures and representations of women.

New Historicism focuses on the historical context of literary works, examining how they are shaped by and reflect the social, political, and cultural forces of their time.

Ecocritical literary theory examines environmental issues and the relationship between literature and the natural world, exploring how literary texts represent and engage with ecological concerns.

Cultural Criticism emphasizes the importance of cultural context in literary interpretation, examining how literary texts reflect and shape cultural values, beliefs, and practices.

Queer literary theory examines sexual and gender identities in literary texts, exploring how they are represented, challenged, and subverted.