Literary criticism is an extension of this social activity of interpreting. Although othello has regularly been praised as william shakespeares most cohesive tragedy, many critics have discovered the. Iago is psychological in essence, while still connecting to literary criticism. The term is also used as in the study of poetry, drama, and novels, as an attempt to understand the biblical writings as literature. The first tab for literary criticism and second tab for author bio are the most important, but browse the other tabs also. The terms literary theory and critical theory refer to essentially the same fields of study.
And again literary criticism asks what literature is, what it does, and what it is worth. A study of contrast between english and persian translation. Othello serves as an example to demonstrate the expectations of the elizabethan patriarchal society, the practice of privileges in patriarchal marriages, and the suppression and restriction of femininity. Magills bibliography of literary criticism ref pn523. Pdf critical analysis of the characters othello and iago. A study of contrast between english and persian translation international journal on studies in english language and literature ijsell page 23repository of conscience and pridedominated by the morality principle, serves to repress or inhibit the drives of the id. Othello is the famous play by william shakespeare presenting the tragic and crucial part of shakespeares writings. This includes the classification by genre, analysis of structure, and judgement of value. Understanding and critiquing the books that line the bookshelves of the worlds readers is no easy task. Iago was a deliberately evil man who wanted othello to. Literary criticism of novels subject and course guides. Introduction to hayden white, university of california at. No criticism of raman, of course indeed, that he could say this is to make. Introduction to literary theory prestwick house, inc.
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals. It tells the story of the african general, othello, who rises to lead the army of the italian. Source material from gli hecatommithi by giraldi cinthio 1565. Doing literary criticism waubonsie valley high school. Literary criticism on shakespeares famous play othello. An early type of criticism mimetic criticism views the literary work as an imitation mimesis of the world. Literary criticism and theory university of calicut.
A critic a critic one who expresses a reasoned opinion on any matter especially involving a judgment of its value, truth, righteousness, beauty, or technique critic. Though the two activities are closely related, literary critics are not always, and have not always been, theorists. From act 1, scene 1 of shakespeares othello, the character, iago tells us i am not. The assumption is that, while the bible is a religious work, its also a literary work, and therefore conforms to the laws of literary com. Critical approaches to othello the british library. Contents foreword, by richard macksey vii preface xiii acknowledgments xvii the johns hopkins guide to literary theory and criticism.
Literary criticism, like literary creation itself, is a means for both perceiving and acting upon life, and like literature can be part of the humanities, the study of man. Traditional approaches to literary criticism, which tend to treat individual works of literature as particular instances of a larger generic sample comprised of various. Critically evaluate platos charges against poetry 2. This guide lists some of the available sources for further research and literary criticism of othello by. Literary criticism is an interpretive process used to weigh the social value of a written idea. Occasionally, you may want to begin with some preliminary literary research to make sure that there is enough critical commentary available, particularly if youre considering writing about a recent author. The basic purpose of the study is the character analysis of othello and iago in the play othello by william shakespeare. M25 1979 this 4volume set lists resources for the study of more than 2,500 works of western literature. This involves, for example, appreciating the wealth of symbolism, metaphor, paradox, paronomasia. Literary criticism article about literary criticism by. Literary criticism this new historicist analysis of edgar allan poes fall of the house of usher was written for english 235. A readers guide to contemporary literary theory 5th edition. Literary devices in othello by olivia shumbo on prezi.
A literary device that uses components in a sentence that are grammatically the same. There are many ways in which criticism may b e classified. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Fry if this topic should seem either too piecemeal or too selfevident to include. A literary work is sincere, meaning it is honest, true to experience and human nature, and thus can speak the truth about the human condition. A goal of the advanced placement literature and composition test, which helps to make sure that students are truly college ready, is the careful reading and critical analysis of literature. Literary criticism article about literary criticism by the. It is thought that his life and character were ruined by the art. First, literary criticism improves your general reading skills, giving you more tools to help solve problems of understanding as you read. Literary criticism is the informed analysis and evaluation of literature.
Everyone who expresses an opinion about a book, a song, a play, or a movie is a critic, but not everyones opinion is based upon thought, reflection, analysis, or consistently articulated principles. Pdf othello is believed to be one of the noblest characters in english literature. The blackwell guide to literary theory gregory castle literary theory. English literaturestudy and teaching highergreat britain. The help author says criticism makes her cringe kathryn stocketts first novel, the help, has become a new york times bestseller and it has its readers buzzing about its racial themes. Introduction to literary theory powerpoint sample pdf. Three main areas of study and points of criticism exist in the feminist theory. Pdf a critical overview of literary criticism in english. For some the play came to be about a black man whose humanity is eroded by the cunning and racism of whites cowhig 7, while for others it was an antiracist polemic that in its fine scrutiny of the. In feminist analysis, women are regarded as ignored, patronized, demeaned and. In a literary work, form and content are fused together, and are integral parts of each other.
Literary theory and schools of criticism introduction. Literary criticism as a tool for interpreting literature. The dialog between socrates and two of his associates shows the participants of this discussion concluding that art. A playful appropriation of some deliberately clunky. Iago feeds upon othello s insecurities to raise his fury.
Literary criticism is the academic study of the techniques used in the creation of. Literary terms in othello parallelism foreshadowing definition. Its the application of the principles and methods of literary criticism to the interpretation of the bible. Literary criticism meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Historical criticism seeks to interpret the work of literature through understanding the time and culture in which the work was written. Second, literary criticism can help you in college by giving you more ways to respond to what you read.
View literary criticism research papers on academia. An introduction, 25th anniversary edition terry eagleton a history of literary criticism. To focus on character analysis has long been out of fashion, but in what follows that is precisely my focus. W45 1994 index to criticism on individual works arranged alphabetically first by author then by title. Introduction to literature, criticism and theory provides a completely fresh and original introduction to literary studies. A feminist analysis of the play othello allows us to judge the different social values and status of women in the elizabethan society. It is designed for students at the undergraduate level or for others needing a broad synthesis of the long history of literary theory. According to elizabethan or shakespeares society built upon renaissance beliefs, women were meant only to marry. Pdf the two sides of the feminist evidence in shakespeares. The unprotectedness of wives in othello scholarworks. Sep 18, 2014 lets try again literary criticism is the evaluation of literary works.
What is the historical approach to literary criticism. The history of criticism literary criticism offers a variety of perspectives for the study of the gospels, for in the history of criticism different views of the reference, role and function of literature have guided the work of criticism. So how might you use literary criticism within a level literature. Considered the most important work of literary history and criticism ever published, the cambridge history contains over 303 chapters and 11,000 pages, with essay topics ranging from poetry, fiction, drama and essays to history, theology and political writing. An anthology, second edition edited by julie rivkin and michael ryan. I then apply these to develop a methodological approach by which to structure my analysis of othello as a school text. British literature othello literary analysis othello, shakespeare in shakespeares play othello, iago uses racial distinction to persuade othello into believing there is an affair between desdemona and cassio. Marxist criticism examines a literary work in all its aspects and qualities from a viewpoint combining sociology, aesthetics, and ethics. The set encompasses a wide selection of writing on orators, humorists, poets. I argued that looking at this short story through this particular lens makes it appear as though poe was using zombie motifs in his story, having.
Pdf othello is believed to be one of the noblest characters in. Othello is one of shakespeares most popular and controversial plays. It is a type of cultural criticism that focuses on literary texts produced in places that were, at one time, under the influence of european read. Literary criticism or literary studies is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Othello literary criticism what critics have to say. Postcolonial criticism postcolonial criticism is a new and emerging type of literary criticism. They both address ways of looking at literature beyond the typical plotthemecharactersetting studies. Bennett and royle approach their subject by way of literary works themselves a poem by emily dickinson, a passage from shakespeare, a novel by salman rushdie, rather than by way of abstract theoretical ideas and isms. Literature criticism online the new york public library. Othello criticism became increasingly politically charged as scholars debated the plays relation to modern conceptions of race and racism. Literary criticism meaning in the cambridge english.
Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of literatures goals and methods. Kelley 16 literary history and historicism 338 david perkins 17 literature and the other arts 362 herbert lindenberger bibliography 387 index 448. Literary criticism is valuable for a number of reasons. One reader writes down his or her views on what a particular work of literature means so that others can respond to that interpretation. Literary criticism questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on literary criticism. Cambridge history of english and american literature. Literary criticism requires students to study, evaluate, and interpret what they read a valuable tool for all students, not just those in an ap class. You may also want to basic overview or article in a reference work before.
Emilias rhetoric of selfresistance in othello dialnet. An introduction provides an accessible overview of major figures and movements in literary theory and criticism from antiquity to the twentyfirst century. Hopefully, after reading through and working with the different literary theories, you will gain new ammunition in your battles of literary analysis. The traditional conception of character to which most. Literary criticism is the study, analysis, and evaluation of imaginative literature. Lets try again literary criticism is the evaluation of literary works. Some of the greatest minds in academia and literary criticism, as well as writers themselves, have attempted to define what makes good literature, or just what makes literature. Accordingly, the two main female characters in othello, desdemona and. Among the various approaches to understanding literary worksformalist, biographical, psychological, gender strategiesthe historical approach is one of the oldest.