LITERARY CRITICISM: CONCISE GUIDE AND COMPLETE PDF

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PDF BELOW

 

MODULE: I

CLASSICAL LITERARY CRITICISM

Introduction

In western critical tradition, the encoding of poetic works led to the development of literary criticism. Some very early Greek poets propounded critical theory or practice. In the fourth century BCE, the Greek Kritai (judges)emerged on the scene. These critics were from the elite class, who studied literary texts as artistic, social, and ideological discourses. They set out to define the quality of literature and to analyse the very nature and status of literary fiction. Western critical thoughts have sought to focus on such questions as 'does literature refer to external reality? What sort of "truth" does literature aim at? What psychological processes contribute to the reader's understanding or enjoyment of literary texts...etc. Moreover, they focus on the effect of literature on society. This module will introduce some of the pioneers of western classical literary criticism and their works.

PLATO

Plato was the first scholastic philosopher who had given a systematic shape to criticism. He lived in the fourth century B.C. He was the most celebrated disciple of Socrates. By his time the glory of Athenian art and literature began to fade and was taken by philosophy and oratory. The great philosophers of the period discussed a great variety of matters including the value of literature of society and its nature and functions. The fourth century B.C. was an age of critical enquiry and analysis.

Plato was not a professed critic of literature and there is no single work that contains his critical observations. His ideas are expressed in several books, chief among them being the "Dialogues" and the "Republic"

PLATO'S VIEW OF ART

Plato's view of art is closely related to his theory of ideas. Ideas, he says, are the ultimate reality and things are conceived as ideas before they take practical shape as things. The idea of everything is therefore its original pattern, and the thing itself is a copy. As copy ever falls short of the original, it is once removed from reality. Art - literature, painting, sculpture- reproduces but things as a mere pastime, the first in words, the next in colours, and the last in stone. So it merely copies a copy; it is twice removed from reality. Art takes men away from reality. The productions of art helped neither to mould character nor to promote the well-being of the state-. He was however not aware of its potentialities for good. Rightly pursued, it could inculcate a love for beauty and for whatever is noble in character and life.

PLATO'S ATTACK ON POETRY

In Plato's opinion, poetry cannot shape the character of the individual not can it promote the well-being of the state. It is a copy of the copy. It is twice removed from reality. He condemns poetry on three grounds.

Poetic inspiration

The emotional appeal of poetry

Its non-moral character.

Poetic inspiration

The poet writes not because he has thought long over but because he is inspired. It is a spontaneous overflow of a sudden outpouring of the soul. No one can rely on such sudden outpourings. It might have certain profound truth, but it should be suspected to the test of reason. Then only it will be acceptable. Otherwise, they are not safe guides. So they can't be substitutes to philosophy which is guided by the cool deliberation. Poetry, on the other hand, is created by the impulse of the moment. So it cannot make a better citizen or a Nation...........

DOWNLOAD HERE

PROPOSED TEXTS

Aristotle- The Poetics   

Arthur Miller- Tragedy and the Common Man 

Sophocles- Oedipus Rex 

T.S Eliot - Traditional and the Individual Talent  

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW