This presentation covers the basics concept of literary criticism. It covers some important points and interesting aspects of literary criticism and it's theory.
3. WHAT IS LITERARY CRITICISM?
Greek verb kritikos, which means to judge or to decide.
Broad generalization any writing that claims to make judgements about the value, or
otherwise, of literature in general or particular literary works.
Arriving at judgements interpretation (or close reading), comparison and informed
analysis.
Judgement: involve claims about the intrinsic worth of literature, the aesthetic, merits and
formal qualities of specific works, or their cultural and historical significance.
Criticism makes assumptions about the nature of language and about what constitutes valid
interpretation.
Related to works of art ask basic questions concerning the philosophical, psychological,
functional, and descriptive nature of a text.
4. WHAT IS LITERARY THEORY?
Consciously or unconsciously, we have developed a mind-set or framework concerning our expectations
when reading a novel, a short story, a poem, or any other type of literature.
To articulate this framework and piece together the various elements of our practical criticism into a
coherent, unified body of knowledge is to formulate our literary theory.
Every reader responds Each reader's theory
may be conscious or unconscious, complete or incomplete, informed or ill-informed, eclectic or unified.
A well-defined, logical, and clearly articulated theory develop a method to establish principles to
justify, order, and clarify their own appraisals of a text in a consistent manner.
We make meaning out of our mental framework wordview: the assumptions or presuppositions that
we all hold (either consciously or unconsciously) concerning the basic makeup of our world base of
literary theory
Each theory focuses primarily on one element of the interpretative process
5.
6. THEORY AND CRITICISM
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation and interpretation of literature.
From Gk. word krites meaning “judge”
the study, analysis, evaluation and interpretation
judges the value of a work aesthetic value, historical/cultural/social significance of the work, use of language,
and insights and insights of the work
Literary theory is the different frameworks used to evaluate and interpret a particular work.
Framework that supports criticism a variety of scholarly approaches to evaluate a study
Understanding the nature, and function of literature and the relation of text to its author, reader, and society
The different perspectives or angles scholars use to evaluate literature.
It is difficult to criticize without a theoretical framework
Shows how theory and practice are inevitably connected and have always been connected
7. LITERARY CRITICISM
Literary interpretation = Second level literary criticism
First level: like/dislike a text; Second level: interpretation of it
Literary criticism advances a particular argument about a specific text or a set of texts.
Should be persuasive.
First step assume a rhetorical stance that engages a type, school, or approach of literary
criticism
The critical approach will determine the content of the interpretation.
Theoretical criticism formulates theories, principles, and tenets regarding the nature and
value of art
Practical criticism (known also as applied criticism) then applies the theories and tenets of
theoretical criticism to a particular work.
8. THREE MAIN ACTIVITIES OF LIT. CRITICISM
The Interpretive Question: What does this work of literature mean?
When we interpret a work, we set forth one or more of its possible meanings.
The Analytic Question: How does this piece of literature work?
When we analyze a text, we get under the hood to see how the engine operates.
Analysis is technical: pulling things apart, examining relationships, figuring out effects.
We are not asking what a poem means anymore but how the author makes it click.
The Evaluative Question: Is this work of literature any good?
When evaluate a work, we form a personal judgment about its work: Is this a great novel or a rotten
one? Why? Does this poem have any value? Why? What does this work of literature add – or subtract
– from the world?
9. WHY ARE THEORY AND CRITICISM IMPORTANT?
Show how theory and practice are inevitably connected and have always been connected
Uncovers hidden patterns
Sharpened and widened our understanding of a great many fundamental issues
it recognizes the importance of empirical, even scientific, evidence
challenging and reorienting thinking in fields beyond specific scopes
explore questions that help define our humanity, evaluate our actions/ or simply increase our
appreciation and enjoyment of both a literary work and our fellow human beings
10. WHY DO WE NEED TO STUDY THEORY AND CRITICISM?
It is a necessity for an enlightened civilization
In order to understand the historical struggles which established our values foundation for
our moral, educational and political values
to study the sources of the conflicts and cultural tendencies which inform our present world
To know the purpose and agenda behind discourse political, religious, moral, historical and
cultural circumstances and purposes
Shows motives behind our practice;
the connection of practice to ideology,
power structures,
our own unconscious,
our political and religious attitudes,
our economic structures;
11. LITERARY CRITICISM ENABLES YOU TO…
Expand our imagination, our sense of what is possible, and our ability to empathize with
others.
Improves your ability to read critically and interpret texts
Gain appreciation for different literary genres and theories of interpretation.
Read samples of literary interpretation.
Write a critique of a literary work.
Reread and reinterpret literary work.
12. BACKGROUND OF CLASSICAL LITERARY CRITICISM
First type of criticism emerged from judging poetic techniques and themes
literary criticism goes at least as far back as archaic Greece, which begins around 800 years
before the birth of Christ
What we call the “classical” period emerges around 500 BC, the period of the great
dramatists Euripides, Aeschylus, and Sophocles, the philosophers Socrates, Plato, and
Aristotle, the schools of rhetoric, and the rise of Athenian democracy and power
“Classical” Athens in the fifth century BC – just prior to the time of Plato – was a thriving democratic
city-state
The philosophies and literary theories of both Plato and Aristotle were integrally shaped by
awareness of political struggles.
The first recorded instances of criticism go back to dramatic festivals in ancient Athens, which
were organized as contests, requiring an official judgment as to which author had produced
the best drama
