Literary criticism is a type of study that involves analyzing, evaluating, and explaining literature. Modern literary criticism is often shaped by literary theory, which examines the purpose and methods of literature. Even though these two areas are similar, people who study literature are not always theorists.
Some people debate whether literary criticism should be seen as a separate field from literary theory. For example, The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism does not separate the two, often using the terms together to describe the same idea. Some critics believe literary criticism applies literary theory to real books, as criticism focuses on specific works, while theory may be more general.
Literary criticism is often written in essays or books. Academic critics teach literature and write for scholarly journals, while others write reviews for popular publications like The Times Literary Supplement, The New York Times Book Review, The New York Review of Books, The London Review of Books, The Dublin Review of Books, The Nation, Bookforum, and The New Yorker.
History
Literary criticism is believed to have started during the classical period. In the 4th century BC, Aristotle wrote a book called Poetics, which explained different types of literature and offered critiques of art from that time. This work introduced important ideas like mimesis (imitation) and catharsis (emotional release), which are still studied today.
During the classical and medieval periods, criticism often focused on religious texts. Long traditions of interpreting religious writings influenced how people studied non-religious texts. This was especially true for the literary traditions of the three Abrahamic religions: Jewish, Christian, and Islamic literature.
Literary criticism also appeared in medieval Arabic literature and poetry, starting in the 9th century. Writers like Al-Jahiz and Abdullah ibn al-Mu'tazz wrote works that included critiques of literature. These writings were part of a broader tradition of analyzing and evaluating texts.
During the Renaissance, ideas about the unity of form and content from classical times were developed into a style called neoclassicism. This period emphasized the importance of literature in culture and believed that poets and authors had a duty to preserve literary traditions. The Renaissance era of literary criticism began in 1498 with the rediscovery of classic texts, including a Latin translation of Aristotle’s Poetics. Aristotle’s work remained a major influence on literary criticism until the late 18th century. One important Renaissance critic, Lodovico Castelvetro, wrote detailed commentaries on Poetics in 1570.
In the 17th century, the core ideas of classical criticism, such as proportion, harmony, and unity, faced challenges. A new movement called the Baroque, which valued bold and extreme styles, began to compete with classical traditions. Key Baroque ideas, like conceit (clever ideas), wit (cleverness), and wonder (amazement), were later explained in detail by Emanuele Tesauro in his 1654 book Il Cannocchiale aristotelico. This work connected metaphor to understanding truth and was inspired by other writers of the time.
During the Enlightenment (1700s–1800s), literary criticism became more common as more people could read. Printing technology improved, and books became widely available. Reading was no longer only for the wealthy or religious; it became a form of entertainment. Literary criticism during this time focused on clear and precise writing, as well as the religious beliefs of authors.
Critics published their reviews in newspapers, magazines, and journals. However, the commercialization of books sometimes led to entertainment-focused writing, which critics tried to address. For example, Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels was criticized for its portrayal of characters like the Yahoos.
The British Romantic movement in the early 1800s introduced new ideas about literature, such as the belief that literature could explore everyday subjects and reach the sublime (a powerful emotional experience). German Romanticism, which followed German classicism, valued fragmented styles and humor more than serious themes. Matthew Arnold became well-known for his literary criticism in the late 1800s.
Modern ideas about literary criticism mostly developed in the early 20th century. Movements like Russian Formalism and New Criticism focused on closely analyzing texts rather than discussing an author’s intentions or a reader’s feelings. This approach, which emphasized the language and structure of texts, remained influential even after these movements declined.
In 1957, Northrop Frye wrote Anatomy of Criticism, noting that some critics judge literature based on political or ideological beliefs. This idea influenced later debates about literary criticism. In the 1960s, university literature departments in Britain and the U.S. began using more philosophical approaches, inspired by movements like structuralism and post-structuralism. These ideas remained popular until the 1990s.
Today, university literature departments use a mix of traditional methods and modern theoretical approaches. While disagreements about the goals of literary criticism have decreased, both traditional and theoretical methods continue to be used. Some critics focus on interpreting texts, while others study theoretical works. Interest in the literary canon (a list of important works) remains a topic of discussion.