Looking at the answers provided on the question as to the best approach to effective teaching of literature, I find that most colleagues proceed by way of theory, whether post-colonialism or structuralism, new criticism and close reading, new historicism, or some other. It seems, therefore, we are all agreed on theory as an irreplaceable instrument of reading and teaching. So the question really is one of which is the most reliable instrument. So I would ask, are there theories that apply across the board to all forms and genres, without discrimination as to time and place of origin?
Interesting question.
On the one hand, a theory may seem to imply a universal tendency, by appearing to attend to basic, generalisable tenets. However, at the same time, most theories tend to project or delineate a particular canon of work, through which they are best able to justify their own premises.
This apparently circular process is not inevitably a vicious one, as Ricoeur explains more than once in his presentation of the "hermeneutic" cycle, in the context of his preferred theory of phenomenological hermeneutics (or if you prefer, hermeneutic phenomenology!)
I would add semiotics and epistemocriticism, as is exposed in this link:
Article Integrational semiology and epistemocriticism
So many theories are offshoots of sociohistorical and philosophical antecedents being philosophical items themselves. This tends to seem to moor them within certain perspectives. However, some theories have branched out to so many relevant and vibrant parts, Marxian aesthetics is one and I deliberately coin it in a general frame. It has its strands in so many theories and may end up being relevant here. Theories that emphasize form, textual and scribal characteristics in prevalently oral or scribal cultures would also very likely meet your aspiration.
1. How can a certain approach be adopted in handling every kind of text?!
2. When I talk about Post-colonial criticism, for example, am I talking about a Theory, or a Discourse?!
I think Colonialism (whatever) damped so deeply all institutions, and specially the educative ones. It was not by chance. In the stress of independence, structures from the past were conserved, because it wasn't possible to leave children without education in the meanwhile of political changes. Nowadays, Internet offers the possibility to build educative and cultural structures of your own, that may integrate better for example traditional sources.
In my opinion the issue is not what kind of theory to use but whether by using it consistently [that is not in an eclectic manner] we can disclose the structure of ideas that underpin a certain work. As with all 'post', I am very skeptical of post-colonialism since it implies that this is 'ancient history', which is far from true.
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