1

LITERARY CRITICISM

2018
1) Define the term 'imitation" in the light of Aristotle's Poetics.
In Poetics, Aristotle defines poetry as an imitation of human actions. By "imitation" he means something like
"representation": the poem imitates by taking an instance of human action and representing it in a new "medium"
or material that of words. In his view, Imitation is the objective representation of life in literature. It is the
imaginative reconstruction of life.
2) What does Aristotle mean by "Organic Unity" of the Plot?
Aristotle describes organic unity by explaining how writing relies internally on narration and drama to be cohesive;
but without balance between the two sides, the work suffers. Organic unity is the idea that a thing is made up of
interdependent parts. For example, a body is made up of its constituent organs, and a society is made up of its
constituent social roles. In Aristotle's Poetics he likened drama narrative's and action to organic form, presenting
it as “a complete whole, with its several incidents so closely connected that the transposal or withdrawal of any
one of them will disjoin and dislocate the whole.”
3) Enumerate the quantitative parts of tragedy as suggested by Aristotle in poetics.
In Chapter 12, Aristotle discusses the quantitative elements of tragedy—the different parts of the performance.
These are the Prologue, Episode, Exode, and a choral portion consisting of Parode and Stasimon. In addition,
some tragedies have songs from the stage and a Commos, a lamentation sung by both actor and chorus. He gives
six formative elements of tragedy—Plot, Character, Thought, Diction Spectacle and Song. Three of these i.e. Plot,
Character, and Thought are internal aspects; three, namely, Diction, Spectacle, and Song, are external aspects.
4) Who are, "bastard poets" in the opinion of Philip Sidney?
All the Muses were got with child to bring forth bastard poets, without any commission they do post over the
banks of Helicon, till they make their readers more weary than post horses.
5) Why does Sidney like the Epic poetry?
Nor can the epic or heroic poetry be disliked because it inculcates virtue to the highest degree by portraying heroic
and moral goodness in the most effective manner. Sidney asserts that the heroical is 'not only a kind, but the best
and most accomplished kind of poetry.
6) Define the term "historical sense" as expressed by Eliot in Tradition and Individual Talent.
Eliot writes about "historical sense" in "Tradition and the Individual Talent." He writes that the historical sense
"involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence" and it is "a sense of the timeless
as well as of the temporal and of the timeless and the temporal together, is what makes a writer traditional.” The
historical sense involves a perception not only of the pastness of the past but also of its presence. Eliot realizes
that the past exists in the present. So the past and the present form. One simultaneous order. This historical sense
is the sense of the timeless and of the temporal together.
7) What does Eliot say about the role of a poet in the poetic process?
In his theory of poetic process, sensation, feeling, emotion and thought form the subject- matter of poetry. The
poet used as a medium, sensibility, the role of emotion and thought are remarkable in this respect. Eliot believes
that the poet is a medium of expression. The poet must be objective in his poetic creation.
8) What is Post-Saussurean view of meaning in the light of Belsey Critical Practice?
Belsey says that it was Post-Saussurean linguistics that revolutionized the theory and practice of literary criticism
by presenting a whole new concept of meaning and interpretation. Post-Saussurean linguistics proved that
meaning does not lie in the text, in the writer or in the reader but it lies in structure.
9) What does Belsey mean by Expressive Realism?
Belsey identifies as "expressive realism" the commonsense theory "that literature reflects the reality of experience
as it is perceived by one (especially gifted) individual, who expresses it in a discourse which enables other
individuals to recognize it as true"
 2

10) State briefly the role of a reader in reading a text as discussed by Belsey.
As its best interest in the reader is entirely liberating a rejection of authorial tyranny in favour of the participation
of the reader in the production of plurality of meanings and its these effects as supporting and developing a raw
authority figure which she describes as, Reader theory mainly constructs a new authority figure as guarantee of a
single meaning, as unless transcendent highly trained model reader who cannot be wronged.
11) How literary criticism is different from fiction?
Literary criticism refers to a genre of writing whereby an author critiques a literary text, either a work of fiction,
a play, or poetry. Alternatively, some works of literary criticism address how a particular theory of interpretation
informs a reading of a work or refutes some other critics' reading of a work. Literature in the form of prose,
especially novels, that describes imaginary events and people
12) What does the term "Peripety" mean?
A sudden and unexpected change of fortune or reverse of circumstances (especially in a literary work) synonyms:
peripeteia, peripetia. Type of: surprise. a sudden unexpected event.
13) List out four essential qualities of an Aristotelian tragic hero?
 A good man – coming to bad end. (Its shocking and disturbs faith)
 A bad man – coming to good end. (neither moving, nor moral)
 A bad man – coming to bad end. (moral, but not moving)
 A rather good man – coming to bad end. (an ideal situation)
14) What does Aristotle mean by the term "Comedy"?
Aristotle defined comedy as an imitation of men worse than the average (where tragedy was an imitation of men
better than the average). Comedy began as an imitation of characters 'of a lower type', meaning a representation
of a defect or ugliness in character.
15) State briefly Sidney's strong claim about the poet?
The poet, says Sidney, imitates the "works of Nature, as do other artists and men of learning. But the poet, while
imitating Nature, transcends it and builds a new Nature. Poetry is superior to both philosophy and history so far
as teaching virtue and urging human beings to live virtuously.
16) How poetry is more philosophical than history in Aristotle's opinion?
Poetry is more "philosophical" than history, according to Aristotle, because in order to unfold a plot in a manner
that is convincing to the audience, the poet must grasp and represent the internal logic, the necessity, of the
outcome of those events.
17) What is Belsey's view of "New Criticism"?
Belsey says that New Criticism failed to define the proper origin of meaning. Their claim 'the text on the page is
the source of meaning' is not valid because a text is written in a language. Every language has its own system of
meaning.
18) Why, according to Eliot, "emotion recollected in tranquility" is an inexact formula?
He declares that "emotions recollected in tranquility" is an inexact formula. He points out that in the process of
poetic composition, there is neither emotion, nor recollection, nor tranquility. In the poetic process, there is only
concentration of a number of experiences. New thing results from this concentration.
19) What does Belsey mean by Ideology?
The unconscious, unquestioned conditions of our experience. Ideology is both a real and an imaginary relation to
the world. As the necessary condition of action, ideology resides in commonplaces and truisms, as well as in
philosophical and religious systems. The destination of all ideology is the subject.
20) What does "deconstruction" mean in the light of Belsey's Critical Practice?
Deconstruction is a philosophical movement and theory of literary criticism that questions traditional assumptions
about certainty, identity, and truth; asserts that words can only refer to other words; and attempts to demonstrate
how statements about any text subvert their own meanings.
 3

2019
1) Enumerate the essential qualities of a good critic?
Characteristics of a good critic are articulateness, preferably having the ability to use language with a high level
of appeal and skill. Sympathy, sensitivity and insight are important too. Form, style and medium are all considered
by the critic.
2) List out the differences between Tragedy and Epic poetry as given in Poetics.
Aristotle seems to treat tragedy and epic poetry as largely similar. They are both meant to be imitations of great
deeds, noble heroes, and tragic suffering, the main difference being that tragedy conveys all this by means of
action, while epic poetry does so by means of language alone. The main difference between epic and tragedy is
that epic uses narration whereas tragedy uses dramatization. Hence, epic is a long poem while tragedy is usually
a play. Moreover, an epic is comparatively lengthier a tragedy.
3) How does Aristotle describe plot as a whole?
By plot Aristotle means the arrangement of incidents. Aristotle defines plot as the soul of tragedy and gives much
emphasis to it. Aristotle says that being an imitation of an action, plot should imitate one action (unity of action).
It is an artistic whole that is directed towards achieving intended effects, that is, catharsis of pity and fear.
4) What does the term "Hamartia" mean?
A fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine. The term hamartia derives from the Greek
hamartánein, which means "to miss the mark" or "to err". It is most often associated with Greek tragedy, although
it is also used in Christian theology.
5) Define poetry as per Philip Sidney's view.
Poetry, according to Sidney, is an art of imitation, a representing, counterfeiting, or figuring forth; to speak
metaphorically, a speaking picture, with this end,—to teach and delight. Poetry is superior to philosophy because
it has the power to stir or move the mind of the reader in a way philosophy cannot do.
6) What kind of understanding about poetry was felt in Sidney's view?
Sidney does recognize the importance of both History and Philosophy but maintains that poetry represents an
artistic perspective of both. Sidney addresses the accusations that poets are liars or falsifiers by claiming someone
cannot lie if they never attempt to tell the truth in the first place.
7) Define "Tradition" in the light of Eliot's essay Tradition and the individual Talent.
According to Eliot tradition is a living culture which is inherited from the past and also has an important function
in forming (shaping) the present. To Eliot tradition is bound up with historical sense of a poet or writer. Historical
sense is a perception that past is not something that is lost or invalid.
8) What is the role of the poet's mind in the creative process?
According to T. S. Eliot in the essay "Tradition and the Individual Talent," the creative process of a poet involves
sublimation of individual talent, emotions, and personality in favor of a consciousness of and adherence to the
artistic traditions of the past. The poet's mind can then be an active repository for all the feelings, images and
phrases comprising tradition until all the particles needed for creation are accumulated, at which time the poet's
mind is the catalyst to turn impressions of feeling, images and phrases into a new creation of poetry.

2017
1) What type of man is suitable for imitation in Aristotelian Tragedy?
He must be one who is highly renowned and prosperous—a personage like Oedipus, Thyestes, or other illustrious
men of such families.
2) What is the importance of Plot in structuring tragedy?
According to Aristotle, the plot is the underlying principle of a tragedy, as it were; the very soul of it, Plot gives
meaning, vigour and vitality to the play. While defining tragedy, Aristotle says 'Tragedy is an imitation of some
action that is serious complete and of a certain magnitude’.
 4

3) Define the term "Anagnorisis" given in poetics.

Anagnorisis, (Greek: “recognition”), in a literary work, the startling discovery that produces a change from
ignorance to knowledge. It is discussed by Aristotle in the Poetics as an essential part of the plot of a tragedy,
although anagnorisis occurs in comedy, epic, and, at a later date, the novel as well.
4) According to Sidney what is the utility of comedy other than providing mere delight?
Sidney defines comedy, ‘as an imitation of the common errors of life, which are represented in the most ridiculous
and scornful manner, so that the spectator is anxious to avoid such errors himself Comedy, therefore, shows the
‘filthiness of evil’, but only in our private and domestic matters. It should aim at being wholly delightful, just as
tragedy should be maintained by a well-raised admiration. Delight is thus the first requirement of comedy; but the
English comic writers err in thinking that delight cannot be obtained without laughter, whereas laughter is neither
an essential cause nor an essential effect of delight. Sidney thus distinguishes delight from laughter.
5) How does Sidney condemn the tragic comedy?
Sidney condemns the attempt of the English dramatists of his age to mingle tragedy and comedy. He is against
tragi-comedy. Sidney's censure of the contemporary drama is that it outrages the grave and weighty character of
tragedy, its elevated style, and the dignity of the personages represented, by mingling kings and clowns,
introducing the most inappropriate buffoonery.
6) Why does T.S. Eliot reject the theory of "Spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" by Wordsworth?
Eliot tries to prove that the emotion of art is impersonal in "Tradition and Individual Talent". He disagrees with
the poetic theory of Wordsworth. He does not believe that poetry is a turning loose of emotion. But he considers
poetry as an escape from emotion.
7) What is the relationship between language and thought according to Belsey in her book critical
practice?
Belsey wants to say that language gives individual identity to the thought or the concept, thought or idea exists
first and then comes language that makes this concept clear to the viewer or the listener.
8) Define the term "Catharsis".
Catharsis is the purification and purgation of emotions—particularly pity and fear—through art or any extreme
change in emotion that results in renewal and restoration. In criticism, catharsis is a metaphor used by Aristotle in
the Poetics to describe the effects of true tragedy on the spectator.

2016
1) According to Aristotle what aspects of life are represented by comedy?
Aristotle defined comedy as an imitation of men worse than the average. However, the characters portrayed in
comedies were not worse than average in every way, only insofar as they are Ridiculous, which is a species of the
Ugly.
 Physical deformity and incongruity, mental deformity or obsession,
 Amusing situations, ridiculous or awkward manners.
 Diverting dialogue or ludicrous expression.
 Satire or gross farcical caricatures.
2) What are the six elements that make up tragedy?
In Poetics, he wrote that drama (specifically tragedy) has to include 6 elements: plot, character, thought, diction,
music, and spectacle.
3) Eliot used the term "objective co-relative" what does it mean?
Eliot himself defines 'objective correlative' as “a set of objects, a situation, a chain of events, which shall be the
formula” for the poet's emotion so that “when the external facts are given the emotion is at once evoked.”
 5

4) What is T.S Eliot's opinion about wordsworth's theory of poetry?

Eliot strived to bring classicism and objectivity in poetry. In Wordsworth's views poetry is the expression of poet's
personal feelings and emotions. While Eliot rejects subjectivism and wants poetry to be impersonal and universal.
To him, Poet's personal emotions must be depersonalized and made general.
5) Why does Sidney prefer poetry to philosophy?
Quoting Aristotle, Sidney says that poetry is more philosophical and more serious than history. Poetry is superior
to philosophy because it has the power to stir or move the mind of the reader in a way philosophy cannot do. The
poet wins the mind of the reader.
6) What is the function of tragedy according to Sidney?
According to Sidney, “the ideal tragedy is an imitation of a noble action, in the representation of which it stirs,
admiration and commiseration.” and teaches the uncertainty of the world and the weak foundations upon which
golden roofs are built.
7) What is Belsey's views about classical realism?
According to Catherine Belsey, Classical Realism that is promoted by text print and electronic media represents
a world of subjects which are the origin of meaning, or knowledge. But they are able to appreciate a classical
realist literature due to the fact that the text available is relatively easily intelligible.

2015
1) What type of plot does Aristotle prefer to capture the attention of the audience?
Aristotle prefers a complex plot, for it startles and captures attention, and so is likely to perform the tragic function
more effectively than a simple plot.
2) How much importance does Aristotle give 'spectacle', the element of tragedy?
Aristotle ranks spectacle last in importance among the other components of tragedy, remarking that a tragedy does
not need to be performed to have its impact on the audience, as it can be read as a text.
3) Sidney says "Comedy is not merely to provide according to Aristotle?
The aim of comedy is to expose and ridicule human folly such as affectation, hypocrisy, so that such follies may
be corrected. Thus he makes comedy a tool of social reform. Comedy should have a corrective value. It is a form
of satire, but the sting should not be direct and painful. Comedy is not merely to provide delight; it must also
correct and improve. As a vice cannot be corrected merely by being laughed at.
4) Why does Eliot regard Milton as a bad influence on classical poetry?
Eliot regards Milton as a bad influence for a number of reasons. First, he lacked visual imagination, secondly, he
wrote English like a dead language, thirdly, his syntax is involved and rhetorical, fourthly, he employs long lists
of proper names to describe space, and lastly, his style, “is not a classical style in that it is not the elevation of a
common style.”