Matthew Arnold’s definition of literary criticism:

As the study and promotion of the best ideas and thoughts in literature. It is a
structured activity that analyzes and judges a work of art, creating principles to assess a
text's beauty and methods. Literary criticism is closely linked to a work of art, and
without it, criticism itself cannot exist. Critics ask fundamental questions about a text's
philosophy, psychology, purpose, and description. There are two main types of literary
criticism: theoretical and practical.

Theoretical criticism:
Involves creating theories, principles, and guidelines that help us understand and
appreciate art. It provides a framework for practical criticism, which applies these
theories to analyze and assess specific works of art. Practical criticism defines standards
of taste and seeks to explain, evaluate, or justify a particular piece of literature. An
absolutist critic believes that there is only one correct theory or set of principles that
should be used when evaluating a literary work. On the other hand, a relativistic critic
uses different and sometimes even contradictory theories to critique a piece of
literature.

Practical criticism:
Also called applied criticism, is a way to analyze literature by using theories and
principles from literary criticism. The practical critic's job is to set standards for what is
considered good literature and to explain why a particular piece of writing fits those
standards. They do this by using their knowledge of critical theories and the established
body of important literature. There are two types of practical critics: absolutist and
relativistic. Absolutist critics believe that there is only one correct theory or set of
principles to judge a literary work, while relativistic critics believe that there can be
multiple valid approaches depending on the text and the critic's point of view. In
summary, practical criticism involves using critical theories to understand and evaluate
specific works of literature.

Plato:
An influential philosopher from ancient Greece, has had a lasting impact on Western
philosophy and literature. One philosopher, Alfred North Whitehead, even claimed that
all Western philosophy can be seen as building upon Plato's ideas. Plato discussed
various important topics such as truth, beauty, goodness, the nature of reality, the
structure of society, how we understand reality and ethics. These ideas have been
discussed, criticized, or accepted throughout history but never ignored. Plato also
contributed to the study of literary theory and criticism. He focused on philosophical
ideals and the idea that there are essences or forms that exist in a spiritual realm, with
the physical world being an imperfect reflection of these ideal forms. Although Plato
criticized poets for creating art that is merely a copy of a copy, he also connected politics
and literature in a morally and logically structured worldview. This connection initiated
an ongoing debate about the value, nature, and importance of artists and literature
itself.

Aristotle:
While Plato’s concern with morality influenced literary criticism, Aristotle focused on the
different elements that make up a literary work. He wrote a book called Poetics, which
was a bit complicated, where he defined tragedy and talked about the general principles
of literature during his time. He was responding to Plato's ideas and arguments.
According to Aristotle, tragedy is a kind of story that imitates a noble and complete
action. It is made better by using fancy language, presenting in a dramatic way, and
creating a feeling of relief and purification by showing pitiful and scary events. Some
people think that Poetics is a guide on how to write literature, but Aristotle actually
wanted to break down tragedy and understand its different parts. Aristotle believed that
poetry usually expresses things that are true for everyone, rather than just specific
individuals, and he thought it was more important than history. He also talked about
comedy, which is a kind of imitation that focuses on silly and ridiculous people.
Aristotle's definition of tragedy is still really important in Western literary criticism.

Dante Alighieri:
was an important writer during the Middle Ages. He wrote a letter called "Letter to Can
Grande della Scala" where he talked about how using everyday language was a good way
to write literature, instead of using Latin, which was the usual language for important
writings. This made literature more accessible to a wider audience. In his famous poem,
"The Divine Comedy," Dante used symbols and different meanings to give his work a
deeper interpretation. This made him a highly respected critic during that time, and he
praised the epic poem as a great form of literature.

John Dryden:
John Dryden was a famous poet, playwright, and critic who represented the neoclassical
spirit in English literature. He is praised by Dr. Samuel Johnson for improving English
poetry's rhythm, refining the language, and expressing correct ideas. Dryden was skilled
in various literary genres and made significant contributions to literary criticism through
his work, "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy." This essay's structure showcases his brilliance by
presenting a conversation among four men traveling down the Thames River, debating
important aesthetic theories. Dryden discusses the advantages of both Plato's and
Aristotle's theories, particularly focusing on Aristotle's idea of unity in time, place, and
action within a play. Dryden supports qualities like politeness, clarity, order, decorum,
elegance, cleverness, and wit as essential characteristics of literary works, reflecting the
neoclassical ideals of his era.

Alexander Pope:
Alexander Pope was a famous poet who lived in England during a time when neoclassical
ideas were popular. Despite facing challenges due to his health and religion, he achieved
success at a young age. His early poems were well-received, but it was his Essay on
Criticism that solidified his reputation as a leading figure in English literature. Pope
believed that the best period of criticism occurred in ancient times, with writers like
Homer, Aristotle, Horace, and Longinus. He argued that a good poet needed natural
talent, knowledge of classical literature, and an understanding of poetry's rules. He
emphasized the importance of using the right words in poetry and popularized the use
of the heroic couplet as a standard form of verse. He also personified abstract ideas in
his work. Pope believed that emotional outbursts and free verse were not refined
enough. As a critic, his role was to uphold classical values and protect them from
changing cultural trends. He based his criticism on the ideas of imitation and rhetoric,
advocating for the imitation of classical writers and setting standards for poetic
language.
William Wordsworth:
In the late 1700s, the world experienced significant political and social changes that
affected people's perspectives. Instead of valuing order and reason like the previous
century, the emerging mindset of the 1800s emphasized intuition as a valid way to
understand truth. Cities, once known for their artistic and literary importance, were now
seen as places where individuals could explore their inner selves. William Wordsworth,
born in Cockermouth, Cumberland shire, became the representative of these
revolutionary shifts in literary thinking. In his collection of poems, Lyrical Ballads, he
presented a fresh vision of poetry, focusing on ordinary men and women as subjects and
everyday language as suitable expressions. Wordsworth redefined poetry as the
spontaneous expression of intense emotions and emphasized its emotional power. He
reshaped the poet's role as someone who speaks to fellow human beings, possessing a
deep understanding of human nature and a rich soul. He highlighted the artist's
uniqueness and allowed readers to partake in this individuality, laying the groundwork
for English romanticism and expanding literary criticism and theory in the 19th and 20th
centuries.