1.

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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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
Rene
Wellek, “is judgment of books, reviewing and finally the definition of
taste, of the tradition, of what is a classic.”
5. Assessment
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)
6. 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)
7 Clarification
may be employed as a means to tha
or the painter, to disengage it, to set it forth – these are the three stages of
the critic‟s duty.” (Walter Pater)
8. Poetry is a „criticism (interpretation) of life‟. Criticism is an
interpretation of that interpr
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.
9. Walter Pater
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.”
10. Matthew Arnold defines criticism as “a disinterested endeavor to
learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world.”
11. The Nature of criticism
Criticism and Creation

creative artist is personal and subjective, whereas a critic is impersonal,

dispassionate, and detached.
12. 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.”
13. 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

to Scott James, “The true critic is an ally of the artist.”

14. 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.”