CRITICISM: DEFINITION & FUNCTIONS

 

CRITICISM: DEFINITION & FUNCTIONS

 Literature has been written since time immemorial. It is as old as human civilization. Criticism also existed when art and literature developed during the ancient times. Art and criticism went side by side during the olden days. Had there been no art and literature, there would never have been criticism. Hence, one may say that criticism is the by-product of art and literature.

 WHY CRITICISM?

 For a judgment on a plant, we consult a gardener; to take a judgment on a bridge, we consult a civil engineer; if we want to take judgment on the quality of furniture, we consult a carpenter. But if we want to take a judgment on poetry, it is not always a poet whom we consult; but we consult a literary critic. 

 Criticism helps us understand and evaluate a work of art. It helps us to improve the quality of literature. Literature plays a very serious role in developing and molding the character of the nation and so criticism too is important as it keeps an eye on the quality of this literature. Hence, one may say that criticism is as important as literature.

 DEFINITION OF CRITICISM:

 The word "criticism" originally comes from the Greek term "Kritikos". This term was first used by John Dryden, the father of English criticism. Dryden used this word first in 1677 in 'Society of Innocence'. It is very difficult to define the term "criticism". Various definitions of criticism have been given by different critics and scholars from ancient to the present time. John Dryden expresses his views on criticism:

 "They only mistake the nature of criticism who think it's business is principally to find faults; criticism as it was first instituted by Aristotle was meant a standard of judging well." 

 I. A. Richards defines criticism as under: 

 "To set up as a critic is to setup as a judge of values." 

 Walter Peter writes:

 "Criticism is an art of interpreting art; it serves an intermediary between the author and the reader by explaining one to the other."

 From the above definitions, we can gather that criticism is not an art of finding faults as it is generally believed. Criticism takes proper judgment upon a work of art. It finds out the values from the work of art. Criticism is a link between the author and the reader. It explains high philosophical thoughts of literature to the reader in the simplest possible manner.

 FUNCTIONS OF CRITICISM:

 1.     To find faults

2.     To judge well

3.     To explain the work of art

4.     To interpret

5.     To expose and describe

6.     To improve the quality of literature

7.     To train the author

8.     To analyse the works of art and compare them with others

9.     To enlighten

 1.     TO FIND FAULTS:

The critic's job is to read and reread the work of art and to find out its merits and demerits. The critic appreciates the merits or values of the work of art; but at the same time when he comes across some faults or loop halls of that work of art, he shows them to the author and advises the author not to repeat these faults in literature. But John Dryden believed that to find out the faults from literature is not the prime function of criticism.

 2.    TO JUDGE WELL:

John Dryden believed that the primary function of criticism is to find out values and to take judgment on these values. The critic is just like a honey bee who travels from flower to flower and gathers honey from them. The critic studies literature and highlights everything which is good and noble. The critic draws the attention of the readers to the best qualities of the authors.

 3.    TO EXPLAIN THE WORK OF ART:

When the author writes any work of art, he writes it in his own style, in his own language. He uses different poetic techniques, similes, figures of speech and so on. The author sometimes presents some high philosophical thoughts in his literature. But a common man who reads this literature cannot sometimes understand it easily. So it is the critic's job to explain the high philosophical thoughts presented by the author. According to walter peter, explaining a work of art is the prime function of criticism.

 4.    TO INTERPRET:

The critic tries to study and interpret the work of art. The work of art may have been written in difficult language. Because of this the reader may not understand the writer's ideas and may not be able to enjoy it well. So the critic tries to interpret and evaluate the work of art. Walter pater believes that this is the main function of criticism.

 5.    TO EXPOSE AND DESCRIBE:

The critic exposes and describes the ideas and thoughts presented by the author. The reader understands the work of art in a better way by this detailed exposition and description. Sometimes criticism may be longer than the original work of art. But by this description, the reader achieves the true meaning which the writer wanted to convey. F. O. Matthiessem believes that exposition and description are the major functions of criticism.       

 6.    TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LITERATURE:

The ultimate aim of literature is to please and to teach the readers. So it is very important that literature which is written must be of high quality. The critics job is to point out the merits and demerits of literature. The critic points out at the merits and demerits of literature. He appreciates the merits but at the same time advises the authors not to repeat the mistakes. A good critic is not just a judge but also a friend to the authors who suggests the authors to improve the quality of literature.

 7.    TO ANALYSE THE WORKS OF ART AND COMPARE THEM WITH OTHERS:

A good critic must have knowledge about all literatures and all authors. He studies and analyses the work of art written by one author and then he compares it with other works of art written by some other great authors. By comparing one literature with the other, he draws some conclusions which are helpful in improving the quality of literature. 

 8.    TO ENLIGHTEN:

One of the primary functions of criticism is to enlighten the masses and to create an ideal atmosphere for the development and nourishment of culture. Criticism, according to Matthew Arnold, is "a disinterested endeavor to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world". It embraces all branches of knowledge - theology, philosophy, history, art and science. The main job of criticism is to make the best ideas prevail in the world. Criticism enlightens the readers by bringing about the excellence of works of art.

CONCLUSION:

 In short, we can summarize the discussion by saying that a critic is a scholar who studies, analyses, interprets and judges a work of art. The critic's job is serious because it is his responsibility to provide a link between the author and the reader. Criticism not only explains and interprets literature but also helps in the improvement of the quality of literature.