Hermeneutics is the study of interpretation and understanding, particularly in the context of texts and other forms of communication.

Martin Heidegger is often considered the father of modern hermeneutics, particularly for his work on the concept of 'being' and its relation to interpretation.

Interpretation is the process of understanding the meaning of a text or other form of communication.

The hermeneutic circle refers to the idea that the interpreter's understanding of a text is influenced by their own beliefs and experiences, which in turn shape their interpretation of the text.

Exegesis is the process of applying hermeneutical principles to the interpretation of a text.

New Criticism is a method of literary analysis that focuses on the text itself, rather than on its historical or cultural context. It is not typically considered a hermeneutical method.

Historical criticism is the process of understanding the meaning of a text in its historical and cultural context.

Structuralism is a hermeneutical method that focuses on the underlying structures of a text.

Deconstruction is the process of deconstructing a text to reveal its hidden meanings.

Reader-response criticism is a hermeneutical method that focuses on the reader's response to a text.

Biographical criticism is the process of understanding the meaning of a text through the lens of the author's biography.

New Historicism is a hermeneutical method that focuses on the relationship between a text and its social and political context.

Genre criticism is the process of understanding the meaning of a text through the lens of its genre.

Audience-response criticism is a hermeneutical method that focuses on the relationship between a text and its audience.

Cultural criticism is the process of understanding the meaning of a text through the lens of its cultural context.