Nature of Criticism_BA III Spl English_Semester V

 (E-content developed by Dr N A Jarandikar)

Nature of Criticism

The term criticism derives from the Greek term ‘kritikos’, which was used in the 4^th century B.C. It means “a judgement of literature”. In the 2^nd century A.D. its place was taken by the term ‘criticus’, aimed at the interpretation of texts of writers in Greek or Latin. 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 emphasis on their evaluation.

• To some people criticism appears to be secondary, parasitic and inferior to creation.

• It is stated that the creative artist is personal and subjective, whereas a critic is impersonal, dispassionate, and detached.

• 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.

• Thus, there is no antipathy but close affinity 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)
• A good critic has the same interest at heart as the artist possesses. His never failing sympathy and intuition qualify him to speak on behalf of the artist. Alexander Pope beautifully says, “Both must alike from Heaven derive their light, These born to judge, as well as those to write.”

• Is literary criticism an art or an exact science? Critics like I. A. Richards and Prof. Moulton aim at scientific accuracy and scientific impartiality in their literary criticism.

• According to D. H. Lawrence, criticism can never be a science. In first place, criticism is ‘much too personal’, and secondly, it is concerned with ‘values that science ignores’.

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