A Short Introduction to Literary Criticism

A critic is an ideal reader, methodically trained and provides judgement. A critic analyses, classifies,evaluates, examines, inquires, subjects the text closer, scrutinises, pronounces a verdict upon the text. He demands intellectual freedom. Literary criticism is an exercise of judgement on the works of literature.

History of Criticism

Hellenic Criticism

Fourth and fifth century Athens became the centre of criticism, mainly Plato and his disciple Aristotle. Many real principles were derived from them. Aristotle was the first theorist in literature and the first scientific critic whose poetry is known famously as the storehouse of theories.

Hellenistic Criticism 

Scholars of this period preserved the writings of the writers. Alexandria became the literary activity of this age.

Greco-Roman Criticism

They were inspired by the ancient Greek writers and wanted to be either equal or to excel them. So they started imitating them. They elaborated, interpreted and started applying the rules of the ancient people in their variety of writing. Horace, Quintilian, Longinus are the notable critics of this period

The Dark Middle Ages

Fifth to fifteenth century which was filled with confusions and dislocation and hence the literary activities suffered. Hair splitting arguments took place and were called hair splitters. they started frowning at literature as if it were sensual. Grammar, rhetoric and logic were given a pride of place during this period. It also integrated the ancient literature in an allegoric manner. The only ray of hope of this period was Dante. 

The Renaissance Criticism 

Great ancient Greek books were translated in this age. Appreciation and creation went hand in hand. Creativity of great amount took place. There are four stages – rennaisance of style and language of the ancients rhetorations, made an attempt to introduce classical metres into English poetry, an attempt was made to justify imaginative literature against the attacks of puritans and moralists, and attempts were made to device rules and principles to guide the would-be future poets. 

Neoclassical Criticism 

Ben Johnson was an important critic of this age who was also the first champion of new classical criticism. he followed the liberal criticism aiming at curbing the absurdities of literature. Addison, Steele Dryden wanted to bring back classical rules once more into this age and called themselves neoclassicals and followed strict rules.

The Romantic Phase

French Revolution and German idealist philosophy contributed to the development of race of romanticism individuality subjectivity freedom of expression and inspiration were given importance what’s that and called which were important products of this time imagination and creativity well given room 

Victorian Criticism

This phase saw a transition of the writers focusing on art, literature and providing critical comments on other works. This period of ocused significantly on an ideal life. Great writers of poetry, prose like Tennyson, Dickens, Arnold and others hold the pride of embracing this Victorian literature

Modern Age

People in this phase were not original thinkers but academicians. They formulated theories and started discussing them in classes. It starts with T S Eliot and the rise of other new critics. The study of the text has to be done word by word, sentence by sentence as they believed. F R Leavis was also a notable textual scholar of this period.

Three forms of Criticism

Legislative Criticism

This form of critical endeavour lays down rules for the art of writing. It’s largely based on standard works of literature like Greek and Latin literature. It assumes that the would-be writer has only to be told how to write well. Hence it addresses the writer and not the reader. 

Aesthetic Criticism

It treats literature as art and as an independent activity of the mind, having an end of its own which may or may not coincide with that of religion, morality, science or politics. It therefore probes the nature of literary arts and formulates its theories accordingly.

Descriptive Criticism

It is a study of individual words of authors’  methods, aims and effects. It may draw on legislative or aesthetic norms to justify its actions or follow an independent life of its own, it assures that what it says can always be confirmed from the work under discussion.

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