Well, you've found your way here somehow, and I can imagine what's brought you to this humble guide.
Maybe you're taking the first course that has ever even mentioned theory and criticism. Maybe you're trying to buff up on it in advance so that you can sound like you know what you're talking about in class. Maybe you're an aspiring scholar that wants to learn about this subject on your own time, because you're not getting what you want out of the courses you've taken.
Whatever you're here for, this guide is here to help.
Ah yes, I can remember the first undergrad class I took that introduced me to the wonderful world of literary criticism. I had virtually never heard of this mysterious "theory" thing before when my World Literature professor passed out an article about something called "deconstruction." What's worse, she expected us to "enter the conversation" with the theorists we were reading in our final papers. Needless to say, YIKES. After an epic struggle, I managed to write my paper, get a decent grade in the course, and learn a little bit about literary theory on the way.
So if you're coming here with little experience grappling with this stuff, I can relate. That's why I created this guide -- to "guide" newbie students through the sometimes intense and painful process of learning about such an intellectually challenging field, which I myself have endured. Sometimes an academic's "explanation" of a difficult theoretical text or concept is just as impossible to understand as the theorist's explanation, so I tried as much as possible to explain key terms thoroughly and use comprehensible language in my explanations.
But I promise: it's not all bad. You'll encounter exciting new ideas and ways of thinking that you didn't even know existed. Fair warning, though -- once you know a little bit of theory, there's no going back. You can't unlearn it. I find myself applying theoretical frameworks to the TV commercials in between innings of the baseball game, to everyday interactions with friends and acquaintances, and to my favorite memes on the internet. It's worth it, though. Sometimes I could swear I felt my brain physically expanding as I learned some of this stuff.
First thing's first: read the introduction to the guide so you'll know what you're in for and where to find what you need. Don't forget that if you get lost, look back at where you came from.