Critical AssumptionsCUP Archive, 1984 M09 6 - 276 pages This book is an historical survey of some important theories of literary criticism, which is designed to introduce more advanced students of English and other European literature to the nature and origin of these theories and ultimately to help them clarify their own attitudes to literature. Professor Ruthven's approach is to bring together and analyse examples of the way in which major writers and critics have dealt with the critical issues raised by different kinds of writing. He emphasizes throughout the variety of critical stances taken at different times in response to the challenge posed by highly original works and he draws on a large number of instances from all the major periods of English literature. The examination of the historical material presented here should encourage students of English, as well as other modern European literatures, to recognise and re-appraise their own critical assumptions. |
Contents
Books as heterocosms I | 1 |
Organic and inorganic form | 16 |
Criteria of complexity and simplicity | 33 |
Inspiration SI 5 Making | 67 |
The autobiographical element | 83 |
Imitation and originality | 102 |
Literary influences | 119 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
admired aesthetic anatomy of melancholy ancient appear artist become begin believe Blake called century claim classical Coleridge collected complete create Eliot English essays evidence example existence expected experience expressed fact feel fiction genius George hand Henry human idea imagination imitation influence inspiration instance intention interpretation James John Johnson kind language later learning less Letter dated lines literary criticism literature living London look matter meaning merely Milton mind moral Muse nature never notes novel objection obscurity once original Oxford personality play poems poet poetic poetry possible Preface problem produce quoted readers reality reason result rhetoric Robert Romantic seems Selected sense Shakespeare Shelley style term texts theory things Thomas thought told tradition trans treat true truth turn universe whole writing written wrote Yeats York