Functions Of Literary Criticism 2w71y

1. THE NATURE AND FUNCTION OF LITERARY CRITICISM Prof. Ketan Pandya Prof. V. I. Patel 2. The Origin and Meaning of the term ‘ CRITICISM ’ The term criticism derives from the Greek term kritikos , which was used in the 4 th century B.C. It means “a judge of literature” . In the 2 nd 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. 3. In English, Dryden used it in the modern sense in his preface to 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. 4. The Function of CRITICISM Judgement : In its strict sense, criticism means judgement. 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. 5. The primary function of a literary critic is to arrive at and pronounce a meaningful judgement of value. I. A. Richards says : “To set up as a critic is to set up as a judge of values.” Literary criticism, says Rene Wellek , “is judgement of books, reviewing and finally the definition of taste, of the tradition, of what is a classic.” 6. 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. “ Evaluative, judicial, or normative criticism attempts to judge the merits of the literature in relation to a literary, social, moral, or other, value system.” (Lee T. Lemon : A Glossary for the Study of English, p. 99 ) 7. T. G. Williams says : “The function of a literary critic is the evaluation of what has been written, in of aesthetic principles appropriate to literature.” ( English Literature, a Critical Survey ) 8. Interpretation : If judgement be the real end of criticism, interpretation may be employed as a means to that end. “ 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.” (Walter Pater) 9. 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 . 10. Walter Pater aptly says: “Criticism is the art of interpreting art.” 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.”

11. Matthew Arnold defines criticism as “a disinterested endeavour to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world.” 12. The Nature of CRITICISM Criticism and Creation To some people criticism appears to be secondary, parasitic and inferior to creation. It is stated that the creative artist is personal and subjective, whereas a critic is impersonal, disionate, and detached. 13. Though the creative and critical faculties are logically distinct, psychologically they are interfused with each other. 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. “There is no work of art”, says Scott James , “which is not preceded by criticism . ” 14. Thus, there is no antipathy but close affinity between the critic and the creative artist. “Both poet and critic draw their light from the sun of beauty and truth , and we may be glad of both . ” (Grierson) According to Scott James , “The true critic is an ally of the artist.” 15. 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. Alexander Pope beautifully says, “ Both must alike from Heaven derive their light, These born to judge, as well as those to write.” 16. Literary Criticism & Scientific Accuracy : A debatable question: Is literary criticism an art or an exact science? Critics like I. A. Richards and Prof. Moulton aim at scientific accuracy and scientific impartiality in their literary criticism. 17. According to D. H. Lawrence, criticism can never be a science. In first place, criticism is ‘much too personal’ , and secondly, it is concerned with ‘values that science ignores’ . “ The touch-stone is emotion, not reason.” 18. “ A perfect judge will read each work of wit With the same spirit that its author writ.” (Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism ) 19. Qualities of a Good Critic Hume believed that agreement among ideal critics on aesthetic issues constituted "the true standard of taste and beauty.” The ideal critic possessed five attributes: "strong sense, united to delicate sentiment, improved by practice, perfected by comparison, and cleared of all prejudice." 20. A good critic must have superior sensibility. He must also have wide erudition. A good critic must be entirely impersonal and objective. He must try to discipline his personal prejudices and whims. A critic must also have a highly developed sense of tradition. 21. An ideal critic must have knowledge of technical details of a poem, its genesis, setting, etc. “ Analysis and comparison, methodically, with sensitiveness, intelligence, curiosity, intensity of ion and infinite knowledge: all these are necessary to the great critic.” T. S. Eliot 22. Remi de Gourmont A critic’s task is “to convert personal impressions into the appearance of an abstract and universal idea”

What Are the Functions of Literary Criticism?

The primary function of literary criticism is to interpret literature in a way that will increase understanding, according to the English department of Georgia Perimeter College. Literary criticism began in 19th century Europe among the bourgeois class, writes Professor Terry Eagleton of the University of Manchester in "The Function of Criticism: From the Spectator to Post-Structuralism." Academics in the literary, political and philosophical fields assembled to discuss literature and apply the resulting ideas to their areas of interest. Understanding Meaning

The Victorian poet Matthew Arnold was the first contemporary literary critic, S.N. Radhika Lakshmi writes on the website Literature-Study Online. Arnold's criticism usually involved poetry; his of literary criticism greatly influenced the literary world, building a new appreciation for its practice. Arnold's scientific approach to criticism included both individual and comparative evaluations. He would explore an author's purpose for writing, helping to determine what the author was saying beyond the obvious. Philosophy

Arnold was a moralist who based his interpretations on this philosophical foundation, Lakshmi writes. Arnold assumed the position that poetry ought to have a moral foundation, with positive ideals and perspectives to communicate to readers. He thought that poetry founded on amoral or indifferent beliefs was counterproductive and rebellious to life itself. Discover History

Citing Aristotle, Arnold believed that poetry was more valid than historical s because it was created as an emotional reaction to events instead of being a subjective report. He based his moralist perspectives on this belief. By assessing literary devices, metaphors, similes, social norms and societal interpretations in literature from a given period, you can learn a lot about that period as well as about its society.

Develop Writing Skills

Literary criticism will not only help students better understand literature, but it will also help them to write it, according to the humanities department at Georgia Perimeter College. Literary criticism and interpretation give meaning and value to an author's work. It is important for every writer to understand literary criticism so that he can improve the way he communicates directly and indirectly. Literary criticism also helps students discover new ideas, develop philosophical positions and learn about the nuances of societies from throughout history.

Literary Criticism – Nature and Function The word criticism has been derived from the Greek word which means Judgment. A critic is a person who expresses opinions about the good and bad qualities of books or the works of literature or poetry or the art of an artist or a painter. It can be said that criticism is the play of the mind to observe the merits and the defects in the works of literature, as Victor Hugo points out, “Is the work good or bad is the critic's domain? Thus, the objective of literary criticism is to determine the artistic values, poetic beauty, or the features being regarded as inadequate existing in the works of literature that in turn may help the writer or poet to improve the skills and ultimately the literary works could in this way attract and delight the readers. While discussing literary criticism, it is important and interesting to know the qualities of a critic in brief, to begin with, first and foremost,a

critic must have a sound commonsense and clear thinking in order to judge or evaluate the works of literature in an efficient way. He is wellread person to exercise judgment on literary works in a way as it should be. He must know the fact that to understand the works of literature,he needs to put himself in the place of a writer so to that he can appraise the work from the viewpoint of a writer as well. In order that the excellence or shortcomings may be examined properly, he does not preform opinion, but interprets literary values on the basis of his knowledge and experience - without an aggressive and unreasonable belief or without any prejudice. And finally, a sound knowledge of human life and nature is a plus point to a critic to judgments on the literary works accordingly. As regards the function of literary criticism, considering the saying of Atkins who says the chief functions of literary criticism are, evaluation, interpretation and explanation or elucidation, it may be said that literary criticism involves various aspects to examine the literary work in order to conclude good qualities and the defects in the works of literature which successively can facilitate the writer to achieve the merits while allowing him to overcome the flaws if any. It must be noted that the ultimate objective of any work of literature or art is to attract the readers or the viewers or observers with excellence while delighting them aesthetically.It is thus by means of criticism to determine whether an artist or a writer has been able to create distinctive values in his work or not. At this stage, it would be appropriate to say that criticism is not just fault-finding but helping the writers or poets or artists in achieving the excellence in their works that the ultimate

objective which is wanted must be attained. At this point, the saying of T.S. Eliot is worth mentioning, “The end of criticism is the elucidation of works of art and the correction of taste.”