Literary Theory & Criticism: Unit 1 Background

What was the original assumption in literary criticism?

What is the primary focus of this unit?

What changed in the field of literary theory and criticism over time?

What can be achieved by subjecting a work of art to a particular theoretical construct?

What is the purpose of interpretation according to the original assumption?

What will this unit enable students to do?

What was the primary focus of literary investigations prior to the 20th century?

According to Jide Balogun, what is the history of literary criticism an ally to?

What did Terry Eagleton argue that literary theory emerged as a way of doing?

When did modern literary theory gradually emerge in Europe?

What was the 20th century termed by critics and scholars?

What did Terry Eagleton describe as a description of the underlying principles by which we attempt to understand literature?

Introduction to Literary Theory and Criticism

The unit focuses on the rise and development of literary theory and criticism, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The location of meaning in a text has shifted from the author to the reader over time.
The purpose of interpretation is to discern the author's intention, which unlocks the textual meaning of the work.

The Nature of Literary Theory and Criticism

Literary theory and criticism have a long and distinguished history, starting with Plato and Aristotle.
Prior to the 20th century, literary investigations focused on evaluation, not interpretation.
The history of literature is the history of literary criticism, with literary theories serving as tools for the realization of literary criticism's crucial obligation.

Emergence of Literary Theory

Modern literary theory emerged in Europe during the 19th century and gained momentum in the 20th century.
Terry Eagleton defines theory as the body of ideas and methods used in the practical reading of literature.
Theories reveal what literature can mean, and all literary interpretation draws on a basis in theory.

Relationship between Literary Theory and Criticism

Literary theory and criticism emerged during the 19th century and reached greater heights in the 20th century.
The 20th century is referred to as the age of criticism, with many critical movements emerging, including Marxism, structuralism, formalism, semiology, psychoanalysis, deconstruction, and post-colonial critical studies.
Notable critics of the 20th century include I.A. Richards, P.R. Leavis, and others.

Test your knowledge of the background to literary theory and criticism, covering its rise and development in the 19th and 20th centuries. This quiz focuses on the significant changes in the field, including the shift in locating the locus of meaning in a text.