1. THE NATURE AND FUNCTION OF LITERARY CRITICISM Prof. Ketan Pandya Prof. V. I. Pate !. T"e Or#$#n and Mean#n$ of t"e ter% & CRITICISM ' T"e ter% (r#t#(#)% der#*e) fro% t"e +ree, ter% ,r#t#,o) - "#(" a) /)ed #n t"e 0 t" (ent/ry .C. It %ean) 2a 3/d$e of #terat/re4 . In t"e ! nd (ent/ry A.D. #t) 5a(e a) ta,en 6y t"e ter% (r#t#(/) a#%ed at t"e #nter5retat#on of te7t) and ord) and #%5ro*e%ent of t"e or,) of r#ter) #n +ree, or Lat#n. 8. In En$#)"- Dryden /)ed #t #n t"e %odern )en)e #n "#) 5refa(e to T"e State of Inno(en(e 91:;;<. He r#te) = 2Cr#t#(#)%- a) #t a) >r)t #n)t#t/ted 6y Ar#)tote- a) %eant a )tandard of 3/d$#n$ e.4 Today- t"e ter% #terary (r#t#(#)% a#%) at t"e )t/dy of or,) of #terat/re #terat/re #t" e%5"a)#) on t"e#r e*a/at#on. 0. T"e F/n(t#on of CRITICISM ?/d$e%ent = In #t) )tr#(t )en)e- (r#t#(#)% %ean) 3/d$e%ent. T"e T"e #terary (r#t#((r#t#(- t"ereforet"erefore- #) 5r#%ar#y 5r#%ar#y an e75ert e75ert "o /)e) "#) )5e(#a fa(/ty and tra#n#n$ to e7a%#ne t"e %er#t) and defe(t) of a 5#e(e of #terary art or t"e or, of a $#*en a/t"or and 5rono/n(e a *erd#(t /5on #t. @. T"e 5r#%ary f/n(t#on of a #terary (r#t#( #) to arr#*e at and 5rono/n(e a %ean#n$f/ 3/d$e%ent of *a/e. *a/e. I. A. R#("ard) R#("ard) )ay) )ay) = 2To 2To )et /5 a) a (r#t#( #) to )et /5 a) a 3/d$e 3/d$e of *a/e).4 L#terary (r#t#(#)%- )ay) Rene ee, - 2#) 3/d$e%ent of 6oo,)- re*#e#n$ and >nay t"e de>n#t#on of ta)te- of t"e trad#t#on- of "at #) a (a))#(.4 :. E*a/at#on = "en a (r#t#( atte%5t) to 3/d$e t"e *a/e of a or, of art or #terat/re#terat/re- "e (an 6e )a#d to "a*e e*a/ated t"e or,. 2 E*a/at#*e- 3/d#(#a- or nor%at#*e (r#t#(#)% (r#t#(#)% atte%5t) to 3/d$e t"e %er#t) of t"e #terat/re #n reat#on to a #terary- )o(#a- %ora- or ot"er- *a/e )y)te%.4 9Lee T. Le%on = A +o))ary for t"e St/dy of En$#)"- 5. BB < ;. T. +. ##a%) )ay) = 2T"e f/n(t#on of a #terary (r#t#( #) t"e e*a/at#on of "at "a) 6een r#tten- #n ter%) of ae)t"et#( 5r#n(#5e) a55ro5r#ate to #terat/re.4 9 En$#)" L#terat/re- a Cr#t#(a S/r*ey < . Inter5retat#on = If 3/d$e%ent 6e t"e rea end of (r#t#(#)%- #nter5retat#on #nter5retat#on %ay 6e e%5oyed a) a %ean) to t"at end. 2 To fee t"e *#rt/e of t"e 5oet or t"e 5a#nter- to d#)en$a$e #t- to )et #t fort" t"e)e are t"e t"ree )ta$e) of t"e (r#t#(') d/ty.4 9ater Pater< B. Poetry #) a &(r#t#(#)% 9#nter5retat#on< of #fe'. Cr#t#(#)% #) an #nter5retat#on of t"at #nter5retat#on. #nter5retat#on. T"e ("#ef f/n(t#on of (r#t#(#)% #) to en#$"ten and )t#%/ate 6y t"e 5ro5er #nter5retat#on of t"e or,) of #terat/re. If a $reat 5oet %a,e) /) 5arta,er) of "#) ar$er )en)e of t"e %ean#n$ of #fe - a $reat (r#t#( %ay %a,e /) 5arta,er) of "#) ar$er )en)e of t"e %ean#n$ of #terat/re . 1. ater Pater a5ty )ay)= 2Cr#t#(#)% #) t"e art of #nter5ret#n$ art.4 Carye ') re$ard for (r#t#(#)%= 2 Cr#t#(#)% )tand) #,e an #nter5reter 6eteen t"e #n)5#red and t"e /n#n)5#red 6eteen t"e 5ro5"et and t"o)e "o "ear t"e %eody of "#) ord)- and (at(" t"e $#%5)e of t"e#r %ater#a %ean#n$- 6/t /nder)tand not t"e#r dee5er #%5ort.4
11. Matt"e Arnod de>ne) (r#t#(#)% a) 2a d#)#ntere)ted endea*o/r to earn and 5ro5a$ate t"e 6e)t t"at #) ,non and t"o/$"t #n t"e ord.4 1!. T"e Nat/re of CRITICISM Cr#t#(#)% and Creat#on To )o%e 5eo5e (r#t#(#)% a55ear) to 6e )e(ondary- 5ara)#t#( and #nfer#or to (reat#on. It #) )tated t"at t"e (reat#*e art#)t #) 5er)ona and )/63e(t#*e- "erea) a (r#t#( #) #%5er)onad#)5a))#onate- and deta("ed. 18. T"o/$" t"e (reat#*e and (r#t#(a fa(/t#e) are o$#(ay d#)t#n(t- 5)y("oo$#(ay t"ey are #nterf/)ed #t" ea(" ot"er. T"ere #) a ,#nd of (r#t#(#)% "#(" e7#)t) 6efore art #t)ef 3/)t a) t"ere #) a ,#nd of (r#t#(#)% "#(" foo) art- ta,#n$ art a) #t) )/63e(tG%atter. 2T"ere #) no or, of art4- )ay) S(ott ?a%e) - 2"#(" #) not 5re(eded 6y (r#t#(#)% . 4 10. T"/)- t"ere #) no ant#5at"y 6/t (o)e an#ty 6eteen t"e (r#t#( and t"e (reat#*e art#)t. 2ot" 5oet and (r#t#( dra t"e#r #$"t fro% t"e )/n of 6ea/ty and tr/t" - and e %ay 6e $ad of 6ot" . 4 9+r#er)on< A((ord#n$ to S(ott ?a%e) - 2T"e tr/e (r#t#( #) an ay of t"e art#)t.4 1@. A $ood (r#t#( "a) t"e )a%e #ntere)t at "eart a) t"e art#)t 5o))e))e). H#) ne*er fa##n$ )y%5at"y and #nt/#t#on /a#fy "#% to )5ea, on 6e"af of t"e art#)t. Ae7ander Po5e 6ea/t#f/y )ay)- 2 ot" %/)t a#,e fro% Hea*en der#*e t"e#r #$"t- T"e)e 6orn to 3/d$e- a) e a) t"o)e to r#te.4 1:. L#terary Cr#t#(#)% J S(#ent#>( A((/ra(y = A de6ata6e /e)t#on= I) #terary (r#t#(#)% an art or an e7a(t )(#en(e Cr#t#() #,e I. A. R#("ard) and Prof. Mo/ton a#% at )(#ent#>( a((/ra(y and )(#ent#>( #%5art#a#ty #n t"e#r #terary (r#t#(#)%. 1;. A((ord#n$ to D. H. Laren(e- (r#t#(#)% (an ne*er 6e a )(#en(e. In >r)t 5a(e(r#t#(#)% #) &%/(" too 5er)ona' - and )e(ondy- #t #) (on(erned #t" &*a/e) t"at )(#en(e #$nore)' . 2 T"e to/("G)tone #) e%ot#on- not rea)on.4 1. 2 A 5erfe(t 3/d$e # read ea(" or, of #t #t" t"e )a%e )5#r#t t"at #t) a/t"or r#t.4 9Ae7ander Po5e- An E))ay on Cr#t#(#)% < 1B. /a#t#e) of a +ood Cr#t#( H/%e 6e#e*ed t"at a$ree%ent a%on$ #dea (r#t#() on ae)t"et#( #))/e) (on)t#t/ted J/ott"e tr/e )tandard of ta)te and 6ea/ty.4 T"e #dea (r#t#( 5o))e))ed >*e attr#6/te)= J/ot)tron$ )en)e- /n#ted to de#(ate )ent#%ent#%5ro*ed 6y 5ra(t#(e- 5erfe(ted 6y (o%5ar#)on- and (eared of a 5re3/d#(e.J/ot !. A $ood (r#t#( %/)t "a*e )/5er#or )en)#6##ty. He %/)t a)o "a*e #de er/d#t#on. A $ood (r#t#( %/)t 6e ent#rey #%5er)ona and o63e(t#*e. He %/)t try to d#)(#5#ne "#) 5er)ona 5re3/d#(e) and "#%). A (r#t#( %/)t a)o "a*e a "#$"y de*eo5ed )en)e of trad#t#on. !1. An #dea (r#t#( %/)t "a*e ,noed$e of te("n#(a deta#) of a 5oe%- #t) $ene)#))ett#n$- et(. 2 Anay)#) and (o%5ar#)on- %et"od#(ay- #t" )en)#t#*ene))#nte#$en(e- (/r#o)#ty- #nten)#ty of 5a))#on and #n>n#te ,noed$e= a t"e)e are ne(e))ary to t"e $reat (r#t#(.4 T. S. E#ot !!. Re%# de +o/r%ont A (r#t#(') ta), #) 2to (on*ert 5er)ona #%5re))#on) #nto t"e a55earan(e of an a6)tra(t and /n#*er)a #dea4
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 !egan in "#th century Europe among the !ourgeois class, writes Professor Terry Eagleton of the $ni%ersity of &anchester in 'The Function of Criticism( From the )pectator to Post*)tructuralism' Academics in the literary, political and philosophical fields assem!led to discuss literature and apply the resulting ideas to their areas of interest Understanding Meaning
The +ictorian poet &atthew Arnold was the first contemporary literary critic, ) -adhi.a La.shmi writes on the we!site Literature*)tudy /nline Arnold0s criticism usually in%ol%ed poetry1 his support of literary criticism greatly influenced the literary world, !uilding a new appreciation for its practice Arnold0s scientific approach to criticism included !oth indi%idual and comparati%e e%aluations 2e would e3plore an author0s purpose for writing, helping to determine what the author was saying !eyond the o!%ious Philosophy
Arnold was a moralist who !ased his interpretations on this philosophical foundation, La.shmi writes Arnold assumed the position that poetry ought to ha%e a moral foundation, with positi%e ideals and perspecti%es to communicate to readers 2e thought that poetry founded on amoral or indifferent !eliefs was counterproducti%e and re!ellious to life itself Discover History
Citing Aristotle, Arnold !elie%ed that poetry was more %alid than historical accounts !ecause it was created as an emotional reaction to e%ents instead of !eing a su!4ecti%e report 2e !ased his moralist perspecti%es on this !elief 5y assessing literary de%ices, metaphors, similes, social norms and societal interpretations in literature from a gi%en period, you can learn a lot a!out that period as well as a!out its society
Develop Writing Skills
Literary criticism will not only help students !etter understand literature, !ut it will also help them to write it, according to the humanities department at Georgia Perimeter College Literary criticism and interpretation gi%e meaning and %alue to an author0s wor. 6t is important for e%ery writer to understand literary criticism so that he can impro%e the way he communicates directly and indirectly Literary criticism also helps students disco%er new ideas, de%elop philosophical positions and learn a!out the nuances of societies from throughout history
Li t er ar yCr i t i c i s m –Nat ur eand Func t i on The word (r#t#(#)% has been derived from the +ree, ord 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 ictor !ugo points out, "Is t"e or, good or bad is the critic#s domain$ Thus, the ob%ective 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 t"e ),#) and ultimately the literary works could in this way attract and delight the readers. &hile 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 %/)t "a*e a sound commonsense and clear thinking in order to %udge or evaluate the works of literature in an efficient way. !e is well' read person to exercise %udgment on literary works in a way as it should be. !e 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 pre%udice. And finally, a sound knowledge of human life and nat/re is a plus point to a critic to pass %udgments 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 ob%ective 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 %ust fault'finding but helping the writers or poets or artists in achieving the excellence in their works that the ultimate
ob%ective which is wanted must be attained. At this point, the saying of T.(. )liot is worth mentioning, “The end of criticism is the elucidation
of works of art and the correction of taste.”
