Criticism: The Major Texts

Criticism: The Major Texts.
Walter Jackson Bate, ed.
New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc. 1952.

Why read it? It's a textbook that contains the original statements on literary and artistic criticism from Plato to Edmund wilson. I suppose you have to be interested in literature in order to enjoy the ideas in this book, but if you persevere, you will have gained a good education in the arts, especially literature.

What follows are some highlights.

The purpose of art is a heightened awareness of reality.

The purpose of the humanities is awareness of basic human values.

Criticism both analyzes and synthesizes.

"Classical" means the principles and values of ancient Greece and their influence on later Western culture. Not much interest in the psychology of the artist. Focus is on that which is permanent, general and ordered rather than isolated and particular. Decorum, balance, rhythm, symmetry and integration of parts. Focus on man's rational nature.

Aristotle: Art molds and develops human character. "Probability" culminates naturally and inevitably by causal interrelation.

In tragedy, character has tragic flaw: from prosperity to adversity because of some great error or frailty. Tragedy is greater as character is aware of what is happening. As a result of viewing tragedy, catharsis purges pity and fear from the viewer.

In tragedy, men are better than actual life; in comedy, men are worse than actual life.

Plot is the arrangement of incidents. In episodic plot, episodes succeed one another without necessity.

Tragedy is in two parts: complication and unraveling or denouement.

Chorus as actor vs. chorus as interlude.

I'm afraid that the summary of this textbook will not be of much interest to the general reader, so I am discontinuing it.