Nature and function of criticism

1. Paper Name: literary theory and criticism
Assignment Topic : nature and function of criticism
Name: solanki pintu v
Sem : 1
Roll No : 35
Enrollment No: PG15101037
Email: solankipintu1991@gmail.com
Submitted to :
M.K. BHAVNAGAR UNIVERSITY
Department Of English

2. The Origin and Meaning of the term
‘CRITICISM’
The term criticism originates from the
Greek term kritikos, which was used in
the 4th
century B.C. It means “a judge of
literature”.
In the 2nd
century A.D. its place was
taken by the term criticus, aimed at the
interpretation of texts and words and
improvement of the works of writers in
Greek or Latin.

3. In English, Dryden used it in the
modern sense in his preface to The State
of Innocence (1677). He writes :
“Criticism, as it was first instituted by
Aristotle, was meant a standard of
judging well.”
Today, the term literary criticism aims
at the study of works of literature with
stress on their evaluation.

4. The Function of CRITICISM
Judgment :
In its strict sense, criticism means
judgment. The literary critic, therefore, is
primarily an expert who uses his special
faculty and training to examine the merits
and defects of a piece of literary art or the
work of a given author and pronounce a
verdict upon it.

5. The chief function of a literary critic is to
arrive at and pronounce a meaningful
judgment of value.
I. A. Richards says : “To set up as a critic is
to set up as a judge of values.”
Literary criticism, says Rene Wellek, “is
judgment of books, reviewing and finally the
definition of taste, of the tradition, of what is
a classic.”

6. Assessment :
When a critic attempts to judge the value
of a work of art or literature, he can be
said to have assessed the work.
“Evaluative, judicial, or normative
criticism attempts to judge the merits of
the literature in relation to a literary,
social, moral, or other, value system.”
(Lee T. Lemon : A Glossary for the Study
of English, p. 99)

7. T. G. Williams says : “The
function of a literary critic is
the evaluation of what has been
written, in terms of aesthetic
principles appropriate to
literature.” (English Literature,
a Critical Survey)

8. Clarification :
If judgment be the real end of
criticism, interpretation may be
employed as a means to that end.
“To feel the virtue of the poet or
the painter, to disengage it, to set it
forth – these are the three stages of
the critic’s duty.” (Walter Pater)

9. Poetry is a ‘criticism (interpretation) of
life’. Criticism is an interpretation of that
interpretation.
The chief function of criticism is to
enlighten and stimulate by the proper
interpretation of the works of literature.
If a great poet makes us partakers of his
larger sense of the meaning of life, a
great critic may make us partakers of his
larger sense of the meaning of literature.

10. Walter Pater rightly says: “Criticism
is the art of interpreting art.”
 Carlyle’s regard for criticism:
“Criticism stands like an interpreter
between the inspired and the uninspired;
between the prophet and those who hear
the melody of his words, and catch the
glimpse of their material meaning, but
understand not their deeper import.”

11. Matthew Arnold defines
criticism as “a disinterested
endeavour to learn and propagate
the best that is known and thought
in the world.”

12. The Nature of criticism
Criticism and Creation
To some people criticism seems to be
secondary, sponging and inferior to
creation.
It is stated that the creative artist is
personal and subjective, whereas a
critic is impersonal, dispassionate, and
detached.

13. Though the creative and critical
faculties are logically distinct,
psychologically they are interfused
with each other.
There is a kind of criticism which
exists before art itself just as there is a
kind of criticism which follows art,
taking art as its subject-matter. “There
is no work of art”, says Scott James,
“which is not preceded by criticism.”

14. Therefore, there is no opposition but
close empathy between the critic and
the creative artist. “Both poet and critic
draw their light from the sun of beauty
and truth, and we may be glad of both.”
(Grierson)
According to Scott James, “The true
critic is an ally of the artist.”

15. A good critic has the same interest at
heart as the artist keeps. His never
failing sympathy and insight qualify
him to speak on behalf of the artist.
Alexander Pope strikingly says,
“Both must alike from Heaven derive
their light,
These born to judge, as well as those
to write.”