FOUNDATION OF LITERARY CRITICISM 🍃

Name : rathod madhvi r.

Year : T.Y.B.A. (2025-26)

Semester : 6

Subject : English 

Paper Name : Foundation of Literary Criticism

Class Assignment: Understanding Literary Theory and Criticism

Home Assignment: Foundations of Literary Criticism: Aristotle and Samuel Johnson

Essay : Romantic Revolution and Critical Thought: Wordsworth and Matthew Arnold

Submission Date : 25/2/2026

College: Maharani shree Nandkunverba Mahila Arts and Commerce College 

HOME ASSIGNMENT 

📚 Beyond the Story: Understanding Literary Theory and Criticism

• When we read a novel, poem, or play, we often get lost in the characters, emotions, and plot twists. But have you ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of the story? Why do different readers interpret the same text differently? Why do some works become timeless classics while others fade away?

- This is where literary theory and criticism step in — transforming simple reading into deep understanding.

🌿 What is Literary Theory and Criticism?

Literary Theory is a set of ideas and principles we use to understand literature. It provides the “lenses” through which we view and interpret texts. These lenses may focus on language, society, gender, class, psychology, or even the unconscious mind.

For example:

-A feminist lens studies gender roles.

-A Marxist lens examines class struggle.

-A psychological lens explores characters’ inner minds.

Literary Criticism, on the other hand, is the practical application of these theories. It is the act of analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating literary works using theoretical perspectives.

In simple words:

Theory gives us tools.

Criticism uses those tools.

Together, they help us move from passive reading to active interpretation.

🌍 Scope of Literary Theory and Criticism

The scope of literary theory is vast and ever-expanding. It does not limit itself to poems and novels; it extends to:

Plays and dramas

Films and media

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Cultural texts

Social narratives

Literary criticism also crosses boundaries of history, sociology, philosophy, psychology, and politics. It studies:

How literature reflects society

How power structures influence writing

How identity (gender, caste, class, race) shapes meaning

How language constructs reality

In the modern world, literary theory is not confined to books — it analyzes culture itself.

🎯 Purpose and Function: Why Do We Analyze Literature?

Why can’t we just enjoy a story and move on?

Because literature is more than entertainment. It is a reflection of human experience.

The purpose of literary analysis is:

1. To Discover Deeper Meaning

Stories often contain hidden messages about society, morality, and identity.

2. To Evaluate Artistic Quality

Criticism helps us judge how effectively a text uses language, structure, and style.

3. To Understand Cultural and Historical Context

Literature is shaped by the time and place in which it is written.

4. To Develop Critical Thinking

Analyzing literature sharpens our reasoning, interpretation, and argument skills.

5. To Encourage Multiple Perspectives

A single text can have multiple meanings depending on the reader’s viewpoint.

In short, literary criticism teaches us not what to think, but how to think.

🔑 Core Concepts in Literary Theory

At the heart of literary studies lie four essential elements:

📖 1. Text

The text is the written work itself — the words, structure, symbols, themes, and style. Some theories focus only on the text and ignore everything outside it.

✍️ 2. Author

Is the author’s intention important? Some critics believe understanding the writer’s life helps interpret the text. Others argue that once written, the text belongs to readers, not the author.

👀 3. Reader

Meaning is not fixed. It changes depending on who reads the text. A modern reader may interpret a classic work differently than readers in the past.

🌎 4. Context

No text exists in isolation. Historical events, social norms, political systems, and cultural beliefs influence literature deeply.

These four elements interact continuously. Literary theory explores which one holds the most importance — and that debate itself creates different schools of thought.

✨ Conclusion: 

Reading Between the Lines

Literary theory and criticism transform reading into exploration. They encourage us to question:

Who is speaking?

Whose voice is missing?

What power structures are hidden?

How does language shape reality?

When we analyze literature, we are not just studying words — we are studying humanity.

So the next time you open a book, remember:

You are not just reading a story.

You are entering a world of meanings waiting to be discovered.

CLASS ASSIGNMENT 

🎭 Foundations of Literary Criticism: Aristotle and Samuel Johnson

Literary criticism did not begin in modern classrooms. It began centuries ago when thinkers started asking serious questions about art, drama, and poetry. Two major milestones in this journey are Poetics by Aristotle and Preface to Shakespeare by Samuel Johnson

Though separated by centuries, both critics shaped how we understand drama and literature today.

🎭 Aristotle’s Poetics: The Concept of Tragedy

Written in the 4th century BCE, Poetics is one of the earliest works of literary theory. Aristotle carefully examined Greek drama and defined what makes a tragedy powerful and meaningful.

📖 What is Tragedy According to Aristotle?

Aristotle defines tragedy as:

“An imitation (mimesis) of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude… through pity and fear effecting the catharsis of such emotions.”

Let’s break this down.

🔑 Key Elements of Tragedy

Aristotle identifies six elements of tragedy:

Plot (Mythos) – The most important element. The sequence of events must be logically connected.

Character (Ethos) – The moral qualities of the characters.

Thought (Dianoia) – The themes and ideas expressed.

Diction (Lexis) – The language and style.

Melody (Melos) – The musical element (in Greek drama).

Spectacle (Opsis) – Visual effects on stage.

Among these, plot is supreme. Aristotle believes tragedy is about action, not just character.

⚡ Important Concepts in Tragedy

1. Hamartia (Tragic Flaw)

The hero is neither completely good nor evil. He falls due to a mistake or weakness.

2. Peripeteia (Reversal)

A sudden change in fortune — from happiness to misery.

3. Anagnorisis (Recognition)

The moment when the hero realizes the truth.

4. Catharsis

The emotional purification of the audience through feelings of pity and fear.

For Aristotle, tragedy is powerful because it emotionally cleanses the audience.

🎯 Aristotle’s Contribution

Aristotle made literature a subject of logical study. He moved criticism from opinion to systematic analysis. His ideas still influence modern drama and storytelling.

🎭 Samuel Johnson’s Preface to Shakespeare

In 1765, Samuel Johnson wrote his famous preface while editing Shakespeare’s plays. Unlike Aristotle, Johnson focused not on rules, but on Shakespeare’s genius.

🌟 Johnson’s View of Shakespeare

Johnson praises Shakespeare for:

1. Realistic Characters

Shakespeare’s characters are not just dramatic figures — they are human beings with universal emotions.

2. Representation of Life

Johnson says Shakespeare’s plays are a “mirror of life.” They show both joy and sorrow, virtue and weakness.

3. Universal Appeal

Shakespeare’s works are timeless because they portray common human nature.

⚖️ Johnson’s Criticism of Shakespeare

Johnson was fair. He also pointed out flaws:

Violation of the three unities (time, place, action)

Mixing tragedy and comedy

Occasional moral looseness

Wordplay and puns that seem excessive

However, Johnson argues that Shakespeare’s natural genius is greater than strict classical rules.

📚 Classical Rules vs. Natural Genius

Here is the major difference:

Aristotle focused on structure and rules of tragedy.

Johnson valued realism and human nature over rigid rules.

Johnson believed drama should reflect life, not blindly follow classical principles.

✨ Conclusion:

 Two Pillars of Criticism

Aristotle gave us the foundation of dramatic theory.

Samuel Johnson gave us practical and human-centered criticism.

Together, they teach us two important lessons:

Art has structure.

Art also has life.

From ancient Greece to 18th-century England, literary criticism evolved — but its purpose remained the same: to understand why literature moves us.

ESSAY

🌿 Romantic Revolution and Critical Thought: Wordsworth and Matthew Arnold

The history of English literary criticism moves like a river — flowing from classical rules to romantic imagination and then toward intellectual analysis.

 Two powerful voices in this journey are Preface to Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and The Function of Criticism at the Present Time by Matthew Arnold.

Both essays changed the direction of English literary thought — one redefining poetry, the other redefining criticism.

🌼 Preface to Lyrical Ballads – Wordsworth’s Theory of Poetry

Published in 1800 (expanded in 1802), the Preface became the manifesto of the Romantic Movement.

 Wordsworth challenged classical traditions and introduced a new vision of poetry.

🌿 What is Poetry According to Wordsworth?

Wordsworth famously defines poetry as:

“The spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings; it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility.”

This definition highlights two important ideas:

Emotion is the heart of poetry.

Reflection shapes emotion into art.

Poetry is not artificial decoration; it is deeply personal and emotional.

🌾 Language of Poetry

Wordsworth rejected the artificial, ornamental language of 18th-century poetry. He argued that:

Poetry should use the language of common men.

Rural life is the best subject for poetry.

Simplicity brings purity and truth.

He believed that ordinary people living close to nature express genuine emotions.

🌻 The Role of the Poet

According to Wordsworth:

A poet is a man speaking to men.

He possesses greater sensitivity and imagination.

He has the ability to feel deeply and express universal truths.

The poet becomes a bridge between nature and humanity.

🌟 Importance of Nature

Nature is not just scenery — it is a moral teacher. It shapes character, heals sorrow, and inspires creativity.

For Wordsworth, poetry is spiritual and emotional experience rooted in nature.

📚 The Function of Criticism at the Present Time – Matthew Arnold

If Wordsworth emphasized emotion, Arnold emphasized intellect.

In his 1864 essay, Arnold discusses the role of criticism in society.

🎯 What is the Function of Criticism?

Arnold defines criticism as:

“A disinterested endeavour to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world.”

Key ideas:

Criticism must be objective and unbiased.

It should spread knowledge and culture.

It prepares the ground for creative activity.

⚖️ Creation vs. Criticism

Arnold believed:

Creation (poetry) is higher than criticism.

But criticism is necessary for intellectual growth.

Criticism creates an atmosphere of ideas that makes great literature possible.

🌍 The Role of the Critic

A critic must:

Remain free from political and personal bias.

Study the best literature across cultures.

Promote intellectual and moral improvement.

Arnold introduced the idea of “touchstone method” (from another essay), where great lines of poetry are used as standards to judge other works.

🌟 Romantic Emotion vs. Victorian Intellectual 

Here is the contrast:

Wordsworth-

Emotion and imagination

Nature and simplicity

Poet as inspired genius

Arnold

Reason and intellect

Culture and refinement

Critic as intellectual guide

Wordsworth focused on how poetry is created.

Arnold focused on how literature should be judged and valued.

✨ Conclusion: 

Two Complementary Visions

Wordsworth liberated poetry from artificial rules and brought it closer to human emotion and nature.

Arnold strengthened criticism by giving it moral and intellectual responsibility.

Together, they teach us:

Literature must touch the heart.

Criticism must guide the mind.

Both are essential for a cultured and thoughtful society.

REFERENCE- 

 https://sist.sathyabama.ac.in/sist_coursematerial/uploads/SHS5009.pdf

https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/engp10/chapter/aristotles-poetic-concept-an-analysis-of-tragedy/

https://www.scribd.com/document/951755219/Literary-Theory-and-Criticism