Welcome to our topic Introduction to Literary Criticism! Introduction to Literary Criticism will introduce you the basic concepts that we will take up in this course. This lesson will present a bird’s eye view of what criticism is, the nature and nuance of literary criticism as well as the three functions of literary criticism. This lesson also presents the desirable qualities of a good critic. As an aspiring literary critic, it is your responsibility to embody these lessons as you get ready to become full-fledged literary critics later. By being able to read literary pieces from different lenses, you are practically starting to become literary critics. So, what are you waiting for, jump in!
“Literature is the question minus the answer.” ~ Roland Barthes
Intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
At the end of this topic, you should be able to:
- Define literary criticism and explain the nature of literary criticism;
- Elaborate the three functions of literary criticism; and
- List the qualities of a good critic.
What is Literary Criticism?
In the ancient times, the term criticism was derived from the Greek term kritikos, which was used in the 4th century B.C. It means a judge of literature. In the 2nd century A.D. its place was taken by the term criticus, aimed at the interpretation of texts and words and improvement of the works of writers in Greek or Latin.
In the modern period, John Dryden used it in the modern sense in his preface to the book, The State of Innocence (1677). He writes:
“Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant a standard of judging well.”
Today, the term literary criticism aims at the study of works of literature with emphasis on their evaluation.
Who is a literary critic?
A literary critic is one who expresses a reasoned opinion on any matter especially involving a judgment of its value, truth, righteousness, beauty, or technique, while an ordinary critic is one who likes or dislikes a book, a movie, a dinner.
An ordinary critic does evaluate but only on the basis of personal preference while a literary critic is usually a professor of literature.
It is “criticism” not because it is negative or corrective, but rather because those who write criticism ask hard, analytical, crucial, or “critical” questions about the works they read since literary criticism is the evaluative or interpretive work written by professional interpreters of texts.
Hence, literary criticism is the act of interpreting literature and must be published in an academic publication such as a journal.
The Nature of Literary Criticism
Criticism and Creation
To some people, criticism appears to be secondary, parasitic and inferior to creation. However, Scott James, a famous literary critic maintained that:
“There is no work of art which is not preceded by criticism.”
It is stated that the creative artist is personal and subjective, whereas a critic is impersonal, dispassionate, and detached. Though the creative and critical faculties are logically distinct, psychologically, they are inter-fused with each other. This was supported by the literary critic Grierson when he said:
“Both poet and critic draw their light from the sun of beauty and truth, and we may be glad of both.”
There is a kind of criticism which exists before art itself just as there is a kind of criticism which follows art, taking art as its subject-matter. Thus, there is no antipathy but close affinity between the critic and the creative artist. According to Scott James,
“The true critic is an ally of the artist.”
A good critic has the same interest at heart as the artist possesses. His never failing sympathy and intuition qualify him to speak on behalf of the artist. The poet and critic Alexander Pope beautifully says:
“Both must alike from Heaven derive their light, these born to judge, as well as those to write.”
Literary Criticism & Scientific Accuracy
A debatable question: “Is literary criticism an art or an exact science?” made the literary critic circle buzzing with clashing opinions and views. Critics like I. A. Richards and Prof. Moulton aim at scientific accuracy and scientific impartiality in their literary criticism.
However, according to D. H. Lawrence, criticism can never be a science. In the first place, criticism is ‘much too personal’, and secondly, it is concerned with ‘values that science ignores’. He said that in criticism, “the touch-stone is emotion, not reason.”
It is good to note though, that there are some critics, including Alexander Pope who believe that criticism shares both characteristics; both as an art and science. In his book, An Essay on Criticism, he said:
“A perfect judge will read each work of wit, with the same spirit that its author writ.”
The Functions of Literary Criticism
There are three functions of literary criticism namely,
- Judgment
- Evaluation
- Interpretation
Judgment. In its strict sense, criticism means judgment. The literary critic, therefore, is primarily an expert who uses his special faculty and training to examine the merits and defects of a piece of literary art or the work of a given author and pronounce a verdict upon it. The primary function of a literary critic is to arrive at and pronounce a meaningful judgment of value. The famous literary critic I. A. Richards says:
“To set up as a critic is to set up as a judge of values.”
In addition, Literary criticism, says Rene Wellek,
“is judgment of books, review and finally the definition of taste, of the tradition, of what is a classic.”
Evaluation. When a critic attempts to judge the value of a work of art or literature, he can be said to have evaluated the work. Lee T. Lemon in his book A Glossary for the Study of English, p. 99:
“Evaluative, judicial, or normative criticism attempts to judge the merits of the literature in relation to a literary, social, moral, or other, value system.”
The literary critic T. G. Williams in his book entitled, English Literature: A Critical Survey, added:
“The function of a literary critic is the evaluation of what has been written, in terms of aesthetic principles appropriate to literature.”
Interpretation. If judgment be the real end of criticism, interpretation may be employed as a means to that end. Walter Pater said:
“To feel the virtue of the poet or the painter, to disengage it, to set it forth – these are the three stages of the critic’s duty.”
Since poetry is a criticism (interpretation) of life, criticism is an interpretation of that interpretation. The chief function of criticism is to enlighten and stimulate by the proper interpretation of the works of literature.
If a great poet makes us partakers of his larger sense of the meaning of life, a great critic may make us partakers of his larger sense of the meaning of literature. Here is Carlyle’s regard for criticism:
“Criticism stands like an interpreter between the inspired and the uninspired; between the prophet and those who hear the melody of his words, and catch the glimpse of their material meaning, but understand not their deeper import.”
Walter Pater aptly said:
“Criticism is the art of interpreting art.”
While Matthew Arnold defines criticism as:
“a disinterested endeavor to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world.”
Qualities of a Good Critic
The English philosopher and critic David Hume believed that agreement among ideal critics on aesthetic issues constituted “the true standard of taste and beauty.” He suggested that the ideal critic must possesses the following five attributes:
- strong sense,
- united to delicate sentiment,
- improved by practice,
- perfected by comparison, and
- cleared of all prejudice
With these attributes, we can list down the following qualities of a good critic
- A good critic must have superior sensibility.
- A good critic must also have wide erudition.
- A good critic must be entirely impersonal and objective.
- A good critic must try to discipline his personal prejudices and whims.
- A good critic must also have a highly-developed sense of tradition.
As a basic requirement, an ideal critic must have knowledge of technical details of a poem, its genesis, setting, etc. This means, all the accumulated knowledge that you have since the day you started reading up to the present will be put into good use. Hence, the number of literary concepts, including the number of literary pieces that you have read will serve you dutifully this time. Aside from the ones listed above, T.S. Eliot, renowned author and critic, added:
“Analysis and comparison, methodically, with sensitiveness, intelligence, curiosity, intensity of passion and infinite knowledge: all these are necessary to the great critic.”
Are you ready to become a critic?
References
- Dobie, Ann B. (2009). Theory into Practice: An Intro to Literary Criticism. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
- Fry, Paul H. (2013). Theory of Literature. New Haven: Yale University Press.
- Habib, M. R. (2011). A History of Literary Criticism: From Plato to Present. UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
- https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/722/
- http://editorskylar.com/litcrit.html