Derrida's 'différance' is a portmanteau combining 'to differ' and 'to defer'. It posits that meaning in language is never fully present or fixed; instead, it is always postponed through a chain of signifiers. Because words derive meaning only through their difference from other words, the final signified meaning is perpetually deferred, making absolute linguistic stability impossible within a deconstructive framework.

Contemporary literary theory is characterized by an eclectic and interdisciplinary approach. Rather than discarding previous frameworks entirely, new theories often synthesize, adapt, or challenge existing methodologies. This process of building upon established critical traditions allows for the development of more nuanced and multifaceted analytical tools that can address the complexities of modern and postmodern texts.

Barthes argues that the author's intention and biography are irrelevant to the interpretation of a text. He posits that once a work is written, it becomes an autonomous entity. The 'death' of the author allows for the 'birth' of the reader, who becomes the primary agent in constructing meaning through their own engagement with the text's language and symbols.

Foucault challenges the traditional notion of the 'author' as a creative genius and source of meaning. He argues that the 'author function' is a discursive construct used to classify, group, and limit the proliferation of meanings in texts. By treating the author as a function rather than a person, Foucault highlights how institutional and historical forces shape our understanding of texts, effectively decentering the author in literary analysis.

Deconstructionism, pioneered by Jacques Derrida, challenges the idea that texts have a single, fixed meaning. It argues that language is inherently unstable and that binary oppositions within a text can be dismantled to reveal contradictions. By showing how a text undermines its own logic, deconstructionists demonstrate that meaning is always deferred and multiple interpretations are possible.

Deconstruction, pioneered by Jacques Derrida, posits that language is inherently unstable and that meaning is never fixed or fully present. By analyzing the internal contradictions, binary oppositions, and linguistic slippages within a text, deconstructionists demonstrate that a text's meaning is constantly deferred and undermined by its own structure, preventing any singular or definitive interpretation from being established.

In 'The Business of Theory,' Deresiewicz critiques Eagleton's 'After Theory' by acknowledging the intellectual value of his arguments and observations while simultaneously expressing skepticism regarding Eagleton's personal motivations and the consistency of his critical stance. Deresiewicz suggests that while the book contains insightful commentary on the state of literary theory, the author's own ideological baggage complicates the reception of his work, leading to a nuanced, albeit critical, assessment of his reliability as a guide.

The concept of the 'Other'—the process by which a dominant group defines itself by marginalizing another—is foundational to multiple critical theories. Feminist theory explores the 'Othering' of women, ethnic criticism examines the marginalization of minority groups, and postcolonial theory analyzes the construction of the colonized subject as the 'Other' by imperial powers.

Deconstructionist criticism involves a rigorous interrogation of the language of a text. It treats language as a system of signs where meaning is never stable but is instead 'deferred' through a chain of signifiers (a concept Derrida called 'différance'). By exposing how language fails to provide a stable foundation for truth, deconstructionists challenge the authority of the text and the possibility of a singular, coherent interpretation.

Jacques Derrida introduced deconstruction in the late 1960s, primarily through works like 'Of Grammatology'. It is a method of critical analysis that seeks to expose the internal contradictions and instability of meaning within texts. By challenging binary oppositions, Derrida fundamentally altered the landscape of literary theory and philosophy.