Criticism and English Literature Lecture 30 History of English Literature COMSATS Virtual Campus Islamabad

Outline of the Lecture What is criticism? Criticism: Its nature and function The Changing Role of Critics and Criticism Types of Criticism Criticism in different eras in English Literature

Criticism: Its Nature and Function The word criticism is derived from the Greek word meaning ‘Judgment’, and hence criticism is the exercise of judgment, and literary criticism is the exercise of judgment on works of literature.

Literary criticism is the play of the mind on a work of literature and it consists in asking and answering rational question about literature. Such an inquiry may be directed either towards literature in general leading to a better understanding of the nature and value of literature, and a better appreciation of the pleasure proper to literature.

Such an inquiry by helping us to think rightly about literature enables us to gain the fullest enjoyment from it. In this way it builds up a theory of literature, and the process of literary creation is examined and made intelligible.

the inquiry may be directed towards particular works of literature, and its individual and distinctive qualities may be examined. The matter, the manner, the technique and language of a piece of literature may be put to searching examination and in this way its literary worth may be assessed.

In this way may also be formulated certain rules which, when duly tested and examined with reference to similar works of literature, may help the reader to form a better idea of literary merit, and also facilitate the task of the writer. Thus the function of criticism is not fault-finding as it is supposed to be by the layman. Its function is not to pick holes in a given work of literature nor is it its function to praise or mention some favourite author.

Indiscriminate praise is as bad as indiscriminate fault finding. Rather, criticism is the science of forming and expressing correct judgment upon the value and merit of works of literature. It is only through criticism that intelligent appreciation and clear understanding becomes possible.

The Changing Role of Critics and Criticism Views regarding the functions of criticism and the role of critics have kept on changing through the ages. Every age has tended to assign a different function or functions to criticism. The earliest systematic critic, Plato, for example, was concerned with the problem of defining the utility of poetry in the educational system of his ideal state, found poetry wanting, and so banished poets from his ideal commonwealth. His approach was fundamentally utilitarian, and he condemned poetry as immoral and untruthful.

Following Plato’s condemnation, critics for long centuries to come were pre-occupied with justifying imaginative literature, more specially poetry. Aristotle took up the challenge of Plato and asserted the superiority of Poetry over Philosophy, and Sir Philip Sydney wrote his famous treatise in defence of poetry.

All through the Renaissance the chief motif of critical writing was to set up a defence of poetry, and to emphasise its moral value. All through the neo-classical age, criticism was concerned with demonstrating that poetry both instructs and delights.

Critics from the earliest times have also thought that the chief business of criticism was to teach the writer how to write effectively. The general statements of Aristotle and Horace were narrowed down to dogmatic ‘rules’ and writers were advised to follow them strictly.

The Augustans were of the view that the chief end of criticism was to devise rules and regulations for the guidance of writers, and then to judge a work on the basis of these rules. Pope admirably sums up the classical view of criticism when he advises the writers to make the study of the ancients their chief delight, and learn from them the rules of good writing. Writers must adhere to these rules when they create, and critics must judge strictly on the basis of these ‘rules.’

However, such a view of the function of criticism soon became outmoded. With the rise of romantic individualism, the conception of the function of criticism underwent a radical change. It was now realised that the chief function of criticism is aesthetic, i.e. to promote appreciation and enjoyment of literature.

The critic is a man of taste, he himself enjoys what he reads, and he tries to convey his own aesthetic pleasure to his readers. Highest criticism is the expression of the personal impression of an exceptionally gifted and sensitive individual; it is a record of his own aesthetic pleasure and response to a work of art and it stimulates and encourages the readers, and helps them to understand literature.

It was also during the romantic era that a number of critics wrote to promote a better understanding of the process of creation. The best of such critics have been the poets themselves, and they have written in order to convey their literary theories – their views of poetic creation – to their readers.

Thus the purpose of Wordsworth’s criticism is to explain to his readers his own poetic theory, and in this way to create the taste by which his poems could be enjoyed. Coleridge, another poet-critic, made minute and subtle studies of the process of poetic creation and tried to formulate principles of poetic composition. In our own day, T.S. Eliot has given considerable thought to poetic creation and tried to formulate principles of poetic composition.

T.S. Eliot has given considerable thought to poetic theory, and through his criticism, he has done much to stimulate re-thinking. Criticism of such poet-critics is of much value and significance. It has been a great irritant to thought.

Romantic criticism often tends to be wayward and unbalanced. Therefore, the need was soon felt to discipline the personal likes and dislikes, prejudices and predilections, of the critic, and bring literary criticism in touch with the main currents of literary and social thought.

Thus during the Victorian era, Matthew Arnold wrote that criticism is, “the endeavour to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world.” In this way, the scope of critical inquiry was much widened, and criticism became a handmaid to culture and education by propagating the best that is known and thought.

Such criticism establishes a current of noble ideas, and thus creates the proper atmosphere in which great literature becomes possible. In this way, criticism promotes creation; critical activity of a high order is considered necessary for successful creation. Indeed, critics like T.S. Eliot are of the view that much critical labour must precede and accompany the labour of creation.

In the modern age, there has been a considerable widening of the scope of criticism. There is a bewildering multiplicity of views and theories regarding the scope and function of literary criticism.

Broadly speaking modern criticism is of two kinds: (a) Extrinsic criticism (b) Ontological criticism.

Extrinsic criticism Extrinsic criticism is criticism which takes into consideration the current psychological, sociological and cultural concepts and relates a work closely to the life and age of its writer. It studies the impact of social conditions on literature, as also how far literature tends mould the age in which it is written. It enables us to judge a particular work in its social and biographical context.

Ontological criticism Ontological criticism focuses its attention entirely and exclusively on the work under study. For an ontological critic or ‘New Critic’, the poem is the thing in itself and the text is minutely examined and studied, word for word, and line by line, without any reference to any other extrinsic considerations.

Obscure allusions, references, quotations, etc., are thus explained away and a better and clearer understanding of the meaning of the text is promoted.

Formalistic criticism is of great service to the reader; it serves to bring the reader closer to the mind of the author. It is explanatory and interpretative and so conducive to a healthier and more intelligent appreciation. Evaluation, interpretation and explanation are now considered as the chief function of literary criticism.

Thank you!!!!