TLDR;
This video provides a historical overview of literary criticism, starting from its origins in ancient Greece with Plato and Aristotle, moving through various periods like the Greco-Roman era, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Neo-classicism, Romanticism, the Victorian era, and the early 20th century. It also discusses different types of literary criticism, such as Archetypal, Cultural, Feminist, Marxist, New Criticism, and New Historicism, explaining their focus and key aspects.
- Literary criticism originated in ancient Greece and has evolved through various periods.
- Key figures like Plato, Aristotle, Horace, and Matthew Arnold shaped the field.
- Different types of criticism focus on various aspects like myths, culture, gender, economics, and historical context.
Introduction to Literary Criticism [0:00]
The video introduces the concept of literary criticism, explaining that the term "criticism" comes from the Greek language and means to give one's judgment. In literary criticism, this involves giving judgment on literary works. The main aim of the video is to show that literary criticism has not remained the same throughout history; both criticism and critics have evolved with time, with each age having its own unique approach to criticism.
Early Critics and Their Approaches [0:29]
The video discusses the approaches of early critics, noting that Plato was one of the earliest systematic critics, evaluating the value of poetry in his ideal state's education system. Aristotle challenged Plato and argued for the value of poetry, even above philosophy. In the Elizabethan age, Sir Philip Sidney wrote "Defense of Poetry." Early critics focused on how writers could improve their works by following specific rules to make them more effective. Classical critics like Aristotle and Horace created rules for writers to strictly follow, with critics judging works based on these rules.
Evolution of Criticism Through Different Ages [1:48]
The video explains how literary criticism evolved through different ages. Classical writers strictly followed rules, but the Romantics challenged this by promoting individualism. Romantics enjoyed literature and viewed critics as men of taste. During the Romantic period, critics were often poets themselves, like William Wordsworth and Coleridge, who aimed to create taste and enjoyment for readers. However, Romantic criticism became unbalanced due to critics' personal likes and dislikes. In the Victorian age, Matthew Arnold emphasized that criticism should seek and promote the best in the world, viewing its scope as very broad.
Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Criticism [3:18]
The video differentiates between extrinsic and intrinsic criticism. Extrinsic criticism considers current psychological, sociological, and cultural concepts related to the writer's life and age. Intrinsic criticism, on the other hand, focuses solely on the text itself, disregarding the author's identity or background. The text is studied in isolation, without considering external factors.
Historical Phases of Literary Criticism [4:00]
The video outlines the historical phases of literary criticism. Aristotle is considered the first scientific literary critic and theorist due to his work "Poetics," which influenced subsequent ages. The Greco-Roman phase included critics like Horace, Quintilian, and Longinus, but Aristotle's influence remained dominant, though often misinterpreted. The medieval age saw a decline in literary work and criticism due to the fall of the Roman Empire and the Dark Ages, with Dante being a notable exception. The Renaissance saw attacks on literature by Puritans and moralists, prompting defenses by figures like Sir Philip Sidney. Ben Jonson was a significant critic in the Elizabethan era and a champion of Neo-classicism.
Neo-classicism, Romanticism and 20th Century Criticism [5:20]
The video continues with Neo-classicism, noting that Aristotle's works and rules were extensively studied during this time, especially by French critics. Dr. Samuel Johnson was a prominent critic of the Neo-classical age. The Romantic phase emphasized individuality, subjectivity, freedom of expression, and inspiration. Key critics of this era included Matthew Arnold and Walter Peter. In the early 20th century, many critics were professors who did not offer original criticism.
Types of Literary Criticism [6:47]
The video discusses various types of literary criticism. Archetypal criticism focuses on myths and archetypes. Cultural criticism examines different religions, classes, identifications, and political beliefs, exemplified by Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," which explores European practices in Africa, race relations, and economic history. Feminist criticism focuses on the inequality between men and women and how society treats them. Marxist criticism is based on Karl Marx's writings and studies economic aspects. New Criticism focuses solely on textual analysis, disregarding the author's biography or cultural background. New Historicism studies literature within its wider historical context, considering the writer's influences and critics' responses to the work.
