Literary theory and criticism

 

Name- AAMINA BELIM

Course- TYBA SEM 6

Subject-MAJOR 15, LITERARY THEORY AND CRITICISM

Professor- SHIVANI MA’AM

College- MAHARANI SHRI NANDKUVARBA ARTS     AND COMMERCE COLLEGE 

Home assignment 

Literary theory and criticism 

Introduction

Definition and Scope: What is Literary Theory and Criticism?

Literary theory and literary criticism are two closely related fields that help us understand, interpret, and evaluate literature in a systematic way. Though often used together, they have distinct meanings.

Literary theory refers to the body of ideas, principles, and methods used to analyze literature. It provides different perspectives or approaches through which a literary text can be studied. These approaches may focus on language, structure, history, psychology, gender, culture, or society.

Literary criticism, on the other hand, is the practical application of literary theory. It involves analyzing, interpreting, and judging a specific literary work. While theory provides the framework, criticism applies that framework to particular texts.

The scope of literary theory and criticism is vast. It includes the study of:

• Poetry, drama, novels, short stories, and essays
• Classical and modern literature
• Western and non-Western literary traditions
• Various critical approaches such as Formalism, Structuralism, Marxism, Feminism, Postcolonialism, Psychoanalysis, and Reader-Response there 

Why Do We Analyze and Evaluate Literature?

The analysis and evaluation of literature serve several important purposes.

1. To Understand Meaning More Deeply

Literature often contains hidden meanings, symbols, and themes. Through analysis, readers uncover layers of meaning that are not immediately visible. For example, a simple story may reflect social injustice, human conflict, or psychological struggle.

2. To Appreciate Artistic Techniques

Writers use literary devices such as metaphor, imagery, symbolism, irony, and narrative techniques. Criticism helps us understand how these techniques contribute to the overall effect of the text.

3. To Evaluate Quality and Value

Criticism allows readers to judge the effectiveness and artistic merit of a work. It raises questions such as:

• Is the plot well structured?
• Are the characters realistic and convincing?
• Does the theme have universal relevance?

 4.To Develop Critical Thinking

Literary analysis strengthens analytical skills. It teaches readers to question, interpret, compare, and form independent opinions based on evidence from the text.

In short, the function of literary theory and criticism is not merely to judge literature but to expand understanding, enhance appreciation, and encourage intellectual growth.

 Core Concepts in Literary Theory

Four major concepts form the foundation of literary theory and criticism: text, author, reader, and context.

1. The Text  

The text refers to the literary work itself. It includes the language, structure, style, characters, plot, and themes. Some theories, such as Formalism and New Criticism, focus only on the text and analyze it independently of the author or historical background.

According to text-centered approaches, meaning is found within the structure and language of the work itself.

2. The Author

Traditional criticism often emphasized the importance of the author’s intention. Understanding the author’s biography, beliefs, and historical situation was considered essential for interpreting the text.

However, modern theories sometimes challenge this idea. Some critics argue that once a text is written, it becomes independent of the author’s intention. Meaning may extend beyond what the author consciously intended.

3. The Reader

Reader-Response theory highlights the role of the reader in creating meaning. According to this view, a literary work does not have a single fixed meaning. Instead, meaning is produced through the interaction between the reader and the text.

Different readers may interpret the same text differently based on their experiences, beliefs, and cultural background.

4. The Context

Context refers to the social, historical, cultural, and political background in which a text is produced and read. Historical criticism and Marxist criticism, for example, emphasize the importance of social and economic conditions in shaping literature.

Understanding context helps readers see how literature reflects or challenges the values of its time.

Together, these four elements—text, author, reader, and context—form the central framework of literary studies. Different theories give importance to different elements

Class assignment 

Poetics by Aristotle 

 Concept of Tragedy

One of the earliest and most influential works in literary theory is Poetics by Aristotle. Written in the 4th century BCE, Poetics is considered the foundation of Western literary criticism.

In this work, Aristotle analyzes Greek drama, particularly tragedy, and explains its structure and purpose.

Definition of Tragedy

According to Aristotle, tragedy is : 

1. Mimesis (Imitation)

Tragedy imitates real life. However, it does not merely copy reality; it represents human actions in a structured and artistic way.

2. Serious and Complete Action

The story must deal with serious themes and present a complete action with a beginning, middle, and end.

3. Catharsis

Catharsis is one of Aristotle’s most important concepts. It refers to the emotional purification or cleansing experienced by the audience. By feeling pity for the tragic hero and fear for themselves, the audience undergoes emotional relief.

4. The Tragic Hero

Aristotle describes the tragic hero as a noble person who falls from happiness to misery due to a flaw known as hamartia (tragic flaw). This flaw is not necessarily a moral weakness but a mistake or error in judgment.

5. Six Elements of Tragedy

Aristotle identifies six essential elements of tragedy:

1. Plot (most important)
2. Character
3. Thought
4. Diction
5. Melody
6. Spectacle

Among these, plot is the most important because it structures the action and creates emotional impact

Importance of Aristotle’s Theory

Aristotle’s theory influenced dramatic writing for centuries. His ideas about plot structure, unity, and catharsis shaped classical and Renaissance drama and continue to influence modern storytelling.

Even today, many films and plays follow the basic tragic pattern described by Aristotle: a central character with a flaw, rising conflict, climax, and eventual downfall.

Conclusion

Literary theory and criticism provide structured ways of understanding and interpreting literature. While theory offers the principles and frameworks, criticism applies them to specific works. The study of literature involves analyzing the text, considering the role of the author, recognizing the reader’s interpretation, and understanding the historical and cultural context.

The contribution of thinkers like Aristotle laid the foundation for literary analysis. His concept of tragedy, particularly the idea of catharsis and the tragic hero, remains significant in modern literary studies.

Overall, literary theory and criticism deepen our appreciation of literature and enhance our ability to think critically. They transform reading from a passive activity into an active intellectual engagement with ideas, emotions, and society.

Essay

Tradition and the Individual Talent

By T. S. Eliot

T. S. Eliot is one of the most important literary critics and poets of the twentieth century. His essay “Tradition and the Individual Talent” was first published in 1919 in The Egoist and later included in his critical collection The Sacred Wood (1920). This essay is considered one of the most influential works of modern literary criticism. In it, Eliot presents new ideas about tradition, originality, and the role of the poet. He challenges the Romantic belief that poetry is the expression of personal feelings and instead emphasizes tradition and impersonality.

Eliot’s Concept of Tradition

Eliot gives a fresh and broader meaning to the term “tradition.” According to him, tradition is not simply copying the past or blindly following earlier writers. It is not something inherited automatically; it must be obtained through great effort and study. Tradition involves a deep knowledge of the entire literary past, especially European literature from Homer to the present day.

He introduces the idea of the “historical sense.” The historical sense means understanding the pastness of the past as well as its presence in the present. A poet must realize that literature is a continuous whole. The works of great writers form an ideal order among themselves, and this order is complete before a new work is added to it.

When a new work of art is created, it does not simply join the existing tradition without effect. Instead, it slightly changes the existing order. The past influences the present, but the present also modifies the past. Thus, tradition is not static; it is dynamic and constantly evolving.

The Relationship Between Tradition and Individual Talent

Eliot argues that individual talent cannot be separated from tradition. A poet must surrender himself to tradition and absorb it completely. Only then can he create something truly original. True originality does not mean being different for the sake of being different. It means contributing something new to the continuous stream of literature.

According to Eliot, the best parts of a poet’s work may be those in which the influence of past poets is most strongly felt. However, this influence should not be mere imitation. It should be a creative assimilation of past literature. Therefore, tradition and individual talent are closely connected. Individual talent grows out of tradition and, in turn, reshapes it.

The Theory of Impersonality

One of the most important ideas in the essay is the theory of impersonality. Eliot strongly disagrees with the Romantic view, especially that of poets like William Wordsworth, who believed that poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.

Eliot argues that poetry is not the direct expression of the poet’s emotions or personality. Instead, it is an escape from personality. The poet’s personal feelings and experiences are transformed into art through a process of depersonalization. The poet acts as a medium through which emotions and experiences are expressed in an artistic form.

To explain this idea, Eliot uses the analogy of a chemical reaction. He compares the poet’s mind to a catalyst in a chemical process. Just as platinum helps chemical reactions occur without being changed itself, the poet’s mind combines emotions and experiences into poetry without being directly expressed. The poet’s personal life is separate from his artistic creation.

Emotion and Artistic Creation

Eliot also distinguishes between personal emotion and artistic emotion. The emotions expressed in poetry are not necessarily the poet’s own emotions. The poet may use ordinary feelings and transform them into something new and universal. Great poetry does not depend on the intensity of personal feelings but on the intensity of artistic expression.

He emphasizes that poetry is a concentration of experience. It is not simply a record of personal life but a structured and disciplined creation. The poet must have control over his emotions and craft them carefully into art.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Tradition and the Individual Talent” is a powerful and thought-provoking essay that reexamines the relationship between past and present in literature. T. S. Eliot emphasizes that tradition is not mere imitation but a living and dynamic force. He also argues that poetry is not the expression of personal emotion but a disciplined artistic creation achieved through impersonality. His ideas continue to influence modern literary criticism and remain relevant even today.