Study, discussion and evaluation

Origin of Literary Criticism o Greeks – 5th Century

inaugurated the formal study of literary Criticism

o Plato – 427-347 BCmorality (rationality)

o Aristotle – 384-322 BCStructure (Objectives)

o Horace – 65-8 BC“The best writings teach and delight”

o Longinus – 1st Century A.D.First comparative critic

o Dante Aligheirilanguage (vernacular)

o Sir Philip SidneyEclectic in criticism

Literary criticism has probably existed for as long as literature.

Later classical and medieval criticism often focused on religious texts, and the several long religious traditions.

Importance of Literary Criticism

Evaluation of literary works involvesTwo kinds of judgment:

1. Assessment of quality and value2. Assessment of cultural, social, and

moral values they display.

Importance of Literary Criticism

1. Appreciation towards a certain literary piece.

2. Understanding reality from fiction

3. Stimulate emotional responses

Approaches of Literary Criticism:

1. The Formalistic Approach2. Moralistic Approach3. Psychological Approach4. Sociological Approach5. Impressionistic Approach

The Formalistic Approach

Determine meaning Focus on literary elements

1. plot2. Characters3. Setting4. Structure

Moralistic Approach

o Literature viewed to discuss man and its nature

o Presents man as essentially rational

Psychological Approach

Draws upon psychoanalytic theories to understand more fully the text, the writer and the reader.

Sociological Approach

Expression man within a given social situation.

Impressionistic Approach

o Elucidate reacting-responseo Seek how the piece has

communicated

The song is a commentary on the double standards that that often exist between men and women and a story of role reversal. Sheexplores what it would be like if she did allthe things he did to her every day.

The woman in the song has been taken for granted but at the same time she doesn't want to let go and lose everything that she once had. It's unclear at the endwhether she is final about not taking him back or if there is a note of hope that someday he'll realize whathe's been doing to her and become a better man.