The document discusses traditional and modern approaches to literary theory. Traditionally, literature was studied by focusing on the author's biography and historical context to interpret themes. Traditional criticism viewed literature as reflecting real human nature and values across history. Modern literary theory takes a more critical approach, seeing concepts like gender and identity as socially constructed rather than natural. It views language as shaping reality and meaning as unstable. Modern theory is more skeptical of totalizing views and focuses on how power structures like gender and race are embedded in language and culture.