INTRODUCTION TO CRITICISM “Literature is a criticism of life” Matthew Arnold 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 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 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.

Literary criticism is the branch of study concerned with defining, classifying, expounding and evaluating works of literature. It is the reasoned consideration of literary works and issues. It applies as a term to any argumentation about literature whether or not specified works are analysed. The earliest important example of literary criticism is Plato’s Republic. It cautions against the risky consequences of poetic inspiration in general.

Twentieth century literary criticism are advocated by I Twentieth century literary criticism are advocated by I. A Richards’s Principles of Literary Criticism(1924) and Northrop Frye’s Anatomy of Criticism (1957). Among the major works of applied criticism in England are the literary essays of John Dryden, Dr Johnson’s “Lives of Poets”, Samuel Coleridge’s “Biliographia Literaria”, William Wordsworth’s “Preface to Lyrical Ballads”, Matthew Arnold’s “Essays in Criticism” and T.S Eliot’s “Selected Essays”.

FUNCTION OF CRITICISM 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. 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.” Evaluative, judicial, or normative criticism attempts to judge the merits of the literature in relation to a literary, social, moral, or other, value system. For T.S Eliot, a critic, as opposed to a writer, analysis the creative text only and then writes. Criticism is possible only if creative aspects are present. Hence criticism itself is not creative

THE TWO APPROACHES TO LITERATURE Intrinsic and Extrinsic approaches to literature are employed by critics to evaluate literature according to their own understanding of the world. Intrinsic and extrinsic approaches to literature are ways to criticize literature in different terms. In intrinsic approach, the critic is mainly concerned with the form, language, style, symbols, images, contrasts, structure and development of plot in a literary work. Words on the page are of utmost importance for him. Intrinsic approach is also called formalism as the critic’s basic interest is in the form of the text.

In comparison to intrinsic approach, the extrinsic approach makes the critic to give more importance to the context of a text. It means that the critic is mainly interested in the background, history, social conditions and biography of the author. He judges the text in relation to the author and his life. The critic moves from the text to the context.

SCHOOLS/TYPES OF CRITICISM MIMETIC CRITICISM The word "mimetic" comes from the Greek word "mimesis," the act of imitation. The mimetic theory of literary criticism places main importance on how well a literary work imitates life. In practice, mimetic critical theory often asks how well the literary work conveys universal truths and teaches the reader positive moral values and modes of personal conduct. While few would argue with positive moral values, the theory can be misused, such as moderating violence against those in difference.

Painting is a common mimetic term Painting is a common mimetic term. Realism is also a mimetic theory, but it sometimes insists that art conveys universal truths, as opposed to merely temporal and particular truth. Dreiser and Hemingway may or may not render their own times and circumstances accurately, but Freud's reading of Oedipus Rex (and Ernest Jones' reading of Hamlet) claims insight into something universal about the human psyche.

PRAGMATIC CRITICISM This second coordinate deals with the relationship between text and audience. The concern for the moral effects of art is often drawn from mimetic theory. Plato invokes the flawed mimetic capacity of poetry as the source of its moral contagiousness. "Psychological" critics like Wordsworth and Aristotle are pragmatists; they lay great stress on art's supposed therapeutic value.

The theories of this mode highlight the reader’s relation to the work The theories of this mode highlight the reader’s relation to the work. Towards the end of 19th century, pragmatism became the furthermost vital school of thought with in American philosophy. It continued the observer tradition of grounding knowledge on practice and stressing the inductive actions of experimental science.   

Expressive criticism focuses on the artists emotion Expressive criticism focuses on the artists emotion. It is well known among poets, for poetry is based on emotion. Expressive criticism describes poetry as an expression, as an over-flow of a poet’s feelings. Expressive criticism is unlike many other forms of criticism in that it does not focus on the style of writing, or grammar, or diction; it focuses on what is being said by the the author.

This form of criticism originated from a cultural movement in Germany and Austria in the early twentieth century called, expressionism. Expressionism was focused on the arts, it’s true meaning changing constantly over time. Ironically, this term was first used to describe French artists, not Germans. If work produced by Van Gogh and Munch is inspected, the critic will find that their work is based off of human experience. It was for this reason that expressionism was claimed to not be a style.

Expressionism started at as paintings, sculptures and so on Expressionism started at as paintings, sculptures and so on. It wasn’t until later that literature, theater, and music were added to the list of expressionism.  What really started the expressive movement was the age of Romanticism. Romanticism deeply affected our modern consciousness and literary commentary. The three main concepts that expressive theorists still stick to today are imagination, genius, and emotion. Expressive theorists believe that individuality is something that must be conveyed in literary work. 

The objective approach to literary work begins with a full description of it, if it is in the ground of poetry, it concerns the physical elements or technical properties. The reader should try to elucidate the author's methods and meaning in an entirely objective way. It begins with the presentation of the physical elements of its literary work, about the length, the form, and etc. which become the basic information of it and proceeds to more complex information, in this case, the elements of content of the literary work, such as theme, setting,