1. Literary criticism refers to the analysis and interpretation of literature.
e. It Plato: Plato was a philosopher in ancient Greece who lived from approximately 428/427 BCE to
involves examining the form, structure, style, themes, and other elements of a
literary work to understand its meaning and significance.
2. Literary theory is a field of study that aims to understand the nature and
function of literature. It explores different approaches to analyzing and interpreting
literature, such as formalism, structuralism, post-structuralism, and psychoanalysis.
3. Russian formalism is a literary theory that emerged in Russia in the early 20th
century. It emphasized the importance of the formal aspects of literature, such as
language, style, and structure, over its content. Russian formalists believed that the
way a literary work is constructed is key to understanding its meaning.
4. Defamiliarization is a literary technique that involves presenting familiar
objects or ideas in an unfamiliar or strange way. This technique is intended to
disrupt the reader's expectations and encourage them to see the world in a new
light.
5. Literariness is a term used to describe the unique features of literary language.
These features include figurative language, symbolism, ambiguity, and complexity,
which are used to convey meaning in a way that differs from everyday language.
6. Reader response theory is a literary theory that emphasizes the role of the
reader in interpreting and understanding a literary work. It suggests that the
meaning of a text is not fixed, but rather depends on the reader's individual
interpretation and response.
7. Transactional reader response theory is an extension of reader response
theory that emphasizes the dynamic interaction between the reader and the text. It
suggests that meaning is not solely determined by the reader or the text, but rather
emerges from the transaction between the two.
348/347 BCE. He was a student of Socrates and the founder of the Academy in Athens, which was
one of the first institutions of higher learning in the Western world. Plato's philosophy was
centered on the idea that there is a world of eternal, unchanging Forms or Ideas that exist beyond
the material world we can perceive with our senses. He believed that knowledge of these Forms
was the key to understanding the nature of reality and achieving wisdom. Plato's dialogues, which
feature Socrates as a main character, explore a wide range of philosophical ideas and have had a
profound influence on Western thought.
Aristotle: Aristotle was a philosopher who lived in ancient Greece from approximately 384 BCE
to 322 BCE. He was a student of Plato and went on to become the tutor of Alexander the Great.
Aristotle's philosophy emphasized the importance of empirical observation and logical deduction
in understanding the world. He made significant contributions to fields ranging from metaphysics
and ethics to biology and politics. In his Poetics, Aristotle offers a systematic analysis of Greek
tragedy and argues that the goal of literature is to produce a "pleasurable effect" in the audience
through the use of language, plot, and character.
Sir Philip Sidney: Sir Philip Sidney was an English poet, courtier, and soldier who lived from
1554 to 1586. He was a prominent figure in the court of Queen Elizabeth I and is known for his
contributions to English literature. In his work The Defence of Poesy, Sidney argues that poetry is
a powerful and important art form that can have a positive influence on society. He defends poetry
against those who criticize it as frivolous or immoral, arguing that it can convey important moral
and ethical lessons and provide a source of inspiration and upliftment for readers.