The AI Revolution in Literary Theory

Abstract

The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has initiated a paradigm shift across disciplines, including the humanities. Literary theory, traditionally grounded in human-centered interpretation, close reading, and philosophical inquiry, is increasingly engaging with computational methods such as machine learning, natural language processing, and algorithmic text generation. This research examines how the AI revolution reshapes literary theory by challenging established interpretive models and introducing new modes of reading and analysis. It explores the implications of AI for classical theoretical frameworks—structuralism, post-structuralism, reader-response criticism, and theories of authorship—while emphasizing the continued necessity of humanistic judgment. The study argues that AI should be understood not as a replacement for literary theory but as a transformative interlocutor that compels a rethinking of interpretation, creativity, and meaning in the digital age.