Must-Prepare Topics for Criticism

THE POETICS (335 BC) by ARISTOTLE (384 BC-322 BC)

1. Concept of Tragedy
2. Ideal Tragic Hero/ Concept of Hamartia
3. The Plot of a Tragedy
4. Theory of Imitation
5. The Function of Tragedy/ Its Emotional Effects/ Catharsis
6. The Three Unities

THE PREFACE TO SHAKESPEARE (1765) by DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON (1709-1784)

1. Brief Synopsis of the Preface to Shakespeare
2. The Unities
3. Didactic Approach
4. Justification of Tragi-Comedy
5. Appreciation of Shakespeare’s Merits
6. Faults of Shakespeare

PREFACE TO LYRICAL BALLADS (1800) by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH (1770-1850)

1. Historical Significance of ‘The Preface to the Lyrical Ballads’
2. Theory of Poetry
3. Theory of Poetic Process
4. Themes and Treatment of Poetry
5. Poetic Diction
6. Qualification and Nature of a Poet
7. Views on Metre

BIOGRAPHIA LITERARIA (1817) by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (1772-1834)

1. Theory of Imagination
2. Difference between Imagination and Fancy
3. Willing Suspension of Disbelief
4. Views on Metre
5. Nature and Function of Poetry
6. Criticism of Wordsworth’s Theory Of Poetic Diction
7. Coleridge As A Critic

THE FUNCTION OF CRITICISM (1865), THE STUDY OF POETRY (1880) by MATHEW ARNOLD (1822-1888)

1. Theory of Poetry
2. Three Estimates of Poetry
3. The Function of Criticism
4. Qualification of a Critic
5. A General Estimate of Arnold as a Critic

TRADITION AND INDIVIDUAL TALENT (1919), HAMLET (1920), THE METAPHYSICAL POETS (1921) by T. S. ELIOT (1888-1965)

1. Theory of Traditions
2. Function / Role of Poetry
3. Views on the Nature of Poetic Process / Theory of Impersonality
4. Objective Correlative
5. Views on Shakespeare’s Hamlet
6. Views on the Metaphysical Poets
7. T. S. Eliot, as a Critic

THE WELL WROUGHT URN by CLEANTH BROOKS (1906-1994)

1. Wordsworth and the Paradox of Imagination
2. Keats’ Sylvan Historian
3. Yeats’ Great Rooted Blossomer

* Critical evaluation of a piece of literature is also included in paper for 20 marks. The students are required to practice some well-known poems and passages analyzing the theme, subject, figures of speech, musical devices etc.

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