Literary Movements vs. Literary Periods: Historical, Social, Political, Philosophical, Religious, and Artistic Contexts Introduction Literature develops within particular historical and cultural conditions. Writers are influenced by the events, beliefs, and…
Wordsworth: Preface to Lyrical Ballads William Wordsworth’s Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1800, updated1802) is a foundational document of Romantic criticism. Written as an introduction to the poetry collection he produced…
Victorian Criticism: Introduction Victorian criticism develops during the nineteenth century in England, a period marked by rapid industrialization, scientific advancement, and profound social change. Positioned between Romantic idealism and modern…
Romantic Criticism: Introduction Romantic criticism emerges as a powerful reaction against the rigid conventions of Neo-Classical thought, particularly those associated with critics like Samuel Johnson and earlier classical authorities such…
Johnson on Dramatic Unities and Shakespearean Drama This text discusses the topic of Johnson on Dramatic Unities and Shakespearean Drama. Samuel Johnson, in his Preface to Shakespeare, offers one of…
Dr. Johnson's Preface to Shakespeare (Critical Principles) Samuel Johnson occupies a central place in eighteenth-century English criticism. Dr. Johnson's Preface to Shakespeare (1765), written for his edition of the plays…
Sidney: Defense of Poetry and Imitation Philip Sidney wrote An Apology for Poetry (also called The Defence of Poesy) in the late sixteenth century. It stands as one of the…
Philip Sidney: An Apology for Poetry (Context and Argument) Sir Philip Sidney’s An Apology for Poetry (also known as The Defence of Poesy), written around 1595, occupies a central place…
Aristotle and Tragedy, Plot, and Catharsis The topics of Aristotle and Tragedy are inseparable in any literary and critial discussion. His discussion of tragedy in The Poetics represents the most…
The Poetics (Introduction) Aristotle’s The Poetics is the earliest surviving systematic work of literary criticism and remains a foundational text for Western literary theory. Written in the 4th century BCE,…
Historical Background of Literary Criticism The history of literary criticism is closely connected with the history of human thought. From its earliest beginnings, criticism has emerged whenever writers and philosophers…
Introduction to Literary Criticism and Theory; Scope and Significance Literary criticism and theory form the intellectual foundation of literary studies. At its simplest level, literary criticism refers to the practice…