What is Literary Criticism?

Introduction to Literary Criticism

A lithograph named "The Critic In The Modern World" by Traviès (1830).

Literary criticism is the analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of literature. It helps readers understand and appreciate literature on deeper levels by examining its structure, themes, characters, and more.

Key Concepts:

1. Text: The written work being analyzed (e.g., a novel, poem, play).

   

2. Author: The creator of the text, including their background, intentions, and influences.

   

3. Reader: Those who interpret and derive meaning from the text.

   

4. Context: The social, cultural, and historical environment in which the text was created and received.

Approaches to Literary Criticism:

1. Formalism: Focuses on the text itself—its form, language, and literary devices—without considering external factors.

   

2. Historical Criticism: Examines how the text reflects and is influenced by its historical context, including cultural norms and events of the time.

   

3. Reader-Response Criticism: Emphasizes the role of the reader in interpreting the text, suggesting that meaning is co-created through reader interaction.

   

4. Feminist Criticism: Analyses literature through the lens of gender roles, exploring how texts portray and reinforce societal norms regarding women and men.

   

5. Marxist Criticism: Looks at literature in terms of class structure, economic conditions, and power dynamics, examining how these influence the text's portrayal of society.

Importance of Literary Criticism:

- Deepens Understanding: Helps uncover layers of meaning beyond the surface.

- Enhances Critical Thinking: Encourages readers to question assumptions and analyze texts from different perspectives.

- Reveals Contextual Insights: Provides insights into social, cultural, and historical contexts of literature.

- Promotes Appreciation: Aids in appreciating the artistry and complexity of literary works.

Literary criticism enriches our understanding of literature by exploring various lenses through which texts can be analyzed. It encourages readers to engage critically with literature and discover new dimensions of meaning and interpretation.