Assignment

               Maharani shree nandkuvrba mahila arts &.             commerce College 

Name:-kapdi Hitakshi shivrambhai 

Sub:- English 

Sem:- T. Y. B. A. Sem:- 6

Paper name:- foundation of literary                                           criticism 

Topic name:-  1. Poetics concept of tragedy 

                          2. Traditional and individual.                                   talen 

                          3. Imagination 

Teacher name:- shivani ma'am 

 Class assignment 

1.Poetics – Concept of Tragedy

by Aristotle

Aristotle’s theory of tragedy, explained in Poetics, is the earliest and most systematic study of drama in Western literary criticism. He analyzed Greek tragedies, especially those of Sophocles and other playwrights, and presented a scientific explanation of how tragedy works, what its structure is, and what effect it produces on the audience.

Below is a detailed explanation of Aristotle’s concept of tragedy.

1. Definition of Tragedy

Aristotle defines tragedy as:

“Tragedy is the imitation (mimesis) of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in embellished language; in the form of action, not narration; through pity and fear effecting the catharsis of such emotions.”

This definition contains many important ideas. Each word is meaningful.

2. Explanation of Important Terms

(1) Mimesis (Imitation)

Tragedy is an imitation of life.

But Aristotle does not mean simple copying. It is creative imitation of human action.

It represents universal truth.

It shows what could happen according to probability and necessity.

It presents human actions, not just characters.

For Aristotle, poetry is more philosophical than history because it deals with universal truths.

(2) Serious Action

The action in tragedy must be serious and noble.

It should deal with important issues like:

Fate

Moral conflict

Suffering

Human weakness

Justice

It should not be comic or light-hearted.

(3) Complete Action

A tragedy must have:

Beginning (no cause before it)

Middle (connected logically)

End (natural conclusion)

The story must have unity. Every event should be connected logically.

This is called Unity of Action.

(4) Magnitude

The story should be long enough to create emotional effect, but not too long to lose unity. It must be significant and meaningful.

(5) Embellished Language

Tragedy uses artistic language:

Rhythm

Harmony

Song

Elevated poetic style

Different parts of tragedy use different forms of expression (dialogue, chorus, etc.).

(6) In the Form of Action

Tragedy is performed on stage.

It is not narrated like a novel.

Characters act and speak directly.

(7) Catharsis (Most Important Concept)

Catharsis means purification or emotional cleansing.

When audience watches tragedy:

They feel pity (for the hero’s suffering).

They feel fear (thinking it could happen to them).

At the end, these emotions are purified or relieved.

Thus tragedy:

Releases emotional tension.

Brings psychological balance.

Provides moral and emotional insight.

Catharsis is the ultimate aim of tragedy.

3. The Tragic Hero

According to Aristotle, the tragic hero must:

Be noble or high status.

Be neither perfectly good nor completely evil.

Have a tragic flaw (Hamartia).

Suffer because of his own mistake.

The hero’s downfall must not be due to pure villainy but due to an error in judgment.

Example:

Oedipus in Oedipus Rex kills his father unknowingly. His downfall is due to ignorance, not evil intention.

4. Important Terms Related to Plot

Aristotle says plot is the soul of tragedy. It is more important than character.

(1) Hamartia

Tragic flaw or error in judgment.

(2) Peripeteia

Sudden reversal of fortune.

(3) Anagnorisis

Recognition or discovery of truth.

(4) Catastrophe

Final tragic ending.

A good tragedy combines peripeteia and anagnorisis.

5. Six Elements of Tragedy

Aristotle mentions six elements:

Plot (Mythos) – Most important

Character (Ethos)

Thought (Dianoia)

Diction (Lexis)

Song (Melody)

Spectacle (Opsis)

He says:

Plot is the soul of tragedy.

Without plot, there can be no tragedy.

6. Types of Plot

(1) Simple Plot

No reversal or recognition.

(2) Complex Plot

Contains peripeteia and anagnorisis. This is the best type.

7. Unity in Tragedy

Aristotle mainly emphasizes:

Unity of Action

Later critics added:

Unity of Time

Unity of Place

But Aristotle clearly stresses unity of action.

8. Purpose of Tragedy

According to Aristotle, tragedy:

Teaches moral lessons.

Shows consequences of human error.

Creates emotional purification.

Gives aesthetic pleasure.

Represents universal human experience.

It is not meant to depress the audience but to elevate and purify them.

9. Significance of Aristotle’s Theory

It laid foundation of Western literary criticism.

It influenced Renaissance and Neo-classical critics.

It shaped dramatic theory for centuries.

It provides scientific analysis of drama.

Even today, modern tragedies follow many Aristotelian principles.

Conclusion

Aristotle’s concept of tragedy is based on structure, emotional impact, and moral insight. For him, tragedy is a serious artistic representation of human action that leads to catharsis through pity and fear.

It is not just a sad story but a powerful dramatic form that reveals universal truths about human life, fate, and morality.

    Home assignment 

2.Tradition and the Individual Talent

by T. S. Eliot

“Tradition and the Individual Talent” (1919) is one of the most important essays in modern literary criticism. In this essay, T. S. Eliot explains his views about tradition, the role of the poet, and the concept of impersonality in poetry. This essay changed the direction of English literary criticism in the 20th century.

1. Introduction

Eliot wrote this essay as a reaction against the Romantic idea of poetry. Romantic poets like Wordsworth believed that poetry is the expression of personal feelings and emotions. But Eliot disagreed.

He says:

Poetry is not the expression of personality.

It is not personal emotion.

It is a process of artistic creation.

He emphasizes the importance of tradition and the relation between the past and the present.

2. Concept of Tradition

Eliot gives a new meaning to the word “tradition.”

Tradition does not mean:

Blind imitation of the past.

Following old customs without thinking.

For Eliot, tradition means:

Awareness of the literary past.

Understanding of great works of literature from Homer to modern times.

A sense of historical continuity.

He introduces the concept of Historical Sense.

Historical Sense

Historical sense means:

The poet must feel the presence of the past.

The poet should understand that literature is a continuous whole.

Past and present exist together.

According to Eliot:

“The past should be altered by the present as much as the present is directed by the past.”

This means:

When a new poem is written, it changes the meaning of old works.

Literature is a living tradition.

3. Relation Between Tradition and Individual Talent

Eliot says that a poet must:

Study the past deeply.

Absorb the tradition.

Add something new to it.

The poet should not try to be completely original. True originality comes from deep knowledge of tradition.

Thus:

Tradition + Individual Talent = Great Poetry

The individual talent must surrender itself to tradition.

4. Theory of Impersonality

This is the most important part of the essay.

Eliot opposes Romantic subjectivity.

He says:

Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion.

It is not an expression of personality.

It is an escape from personality.

He believes the poet should remove personal emotions from poetry.

The Chemical Analogy

Eliot gives a scientific example.

He compares the poet’s mind to a catalyst (like platinum).

In a chemical reaction:

Oxygen + Sulphur dioxide combine.

Platinum helps the reaction.

But platinum itself does not change.

Similarly:

The poet’s mind combines emotions and experiences.

But the poet remains detached.

The poem is independent of the poet’s personal life.

Thus, poetry is an impersonal art.

5. Emotion in Poetry

Eliot does not say poetry has no emotion.

He says:

Poetry is not personal emotion.

It is artistic emotion.

It is transformed emotion.

Poetry is the result of:

Concentration

Fusion of feelings

Artistic control

6. Criticism of Romantic Theory

Romantic poets believed:

Poetry is spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.

Poet is a special inspired individual.

Eliot disagrees:

Poetry requires discipline.

It requires knowledge of tradition.

It requires impersonality.

7. Importance of the Essay

This essay:

Established modern critical theory.

Emphasized objectivity in literature.

Influenced New Criticism.

Rejected excessive subjectivity.

It gave a new direction to literary studies in the 20th century.

8. Critical Evaluation

Merits:

Gives importance to tradition.

Balances originality and inheritance.

Introduces scientific approach to criticism.

Highlights artistic discipline.

Demerits:

Too much emphasis on impersonality.

Ignores personal and social context.

Difficult to completely separate poet from personality.

Conclusion

In “Tradition and the Individual Talent,” T. S. Eliot explains that:

A poet must have historical sense.

Poetry is impersonal.

True originality comes from tradition.

The poet must surrender himself to art.

This essay remains one of the most influential texts in modern literary criticism

                         Essay 

3.Imagination by I. A. Richards

I. A. Richards was one of the most influential modern literary critics of the 20th century. In his critical works like Principles of Literary Criticism and Practical Criticism, he discusses the nature of poetry, meaning, emotion, and imagination. His theory of imagination is psychological and scientific. He does not treat imagination as a mystical or divine power (as Romantic poets did), but as a mental activity that organizes experience.

Introduction

Richards tries to explain how poetry works in the human mind. According to him, imagination is not something supernatural. It is a psychological process by which different impulses, feelings, and experiences are brought together into a balanced and harmonious structure.

For Richards, imagination is closely connected with:

Emotion

Balance of impulses

Organization of experience

Harmony in the mind

Thus, imagination is a mental activity that creates order out of chaos.

Richards’ View of Imagination

Richards rejects the Romantic idea that imagination is:

A divine inspiration

A mysterious creative power

Purely emotional expression

Instead, he explains imagination scientifically and psychologically.

According to Richards, imagination performs the following functions:

1. Imagination as Synthesis

Imagination combines different experiences and emotions into a unified whole.

In ordinary life:

Our emotions are scattered and conflicting.

In poetry:

Imagination organizes these emotions.

It produces harmony and balance.

Thus, imagination creates unity in diversity.

2. Balance of Opposing Impulses

Richards believes that the human mind contains many conflicting impulses.

For example:

Love and hatred

Fear and courage

Joy and sorrow

In daily life, these impulses create tension.

But in poetry:

Imagination balances these opposing impulses.

It creates emotional equilibrium.

This balance gives aesthetic pleasure.

3. Imagination as Ordering Power

Richards says imagination gives order to experience.

Life is full of:

Confusion

Emotional disturbance

Psychological tension

Poetry, through imagination:

Arranges experiences meaningfully.

Creates mental stability.

Produces satisfaction.

Thus, imagination is an organizing force.

4. Imagination and Value of Poetry

Richards connects imagination with the value of poetry.

According to him:

Good poetry balances impulses successfully.

Bad poetry fails to create harmony.

The value of poetry depends on how well it organizes emotional experience.

Thus, imagination determines the artistic quality of poetry.

5. Imagination and Communication

Richards also discusses communication in poetry.

He says:

Poetry communicates feelings.

But not directly like ordinary language.

It communicates through suggestion and emotional structure.

Imagination helps readers to:

Experience similar emotional balance.

Participate in the poet’s organized experience.

Difference from Romantic Imagination

Romantic poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge considered imagination as:

Divine gift

Creative genius

Spiritual power

But Richards’ imagination is:

Psychological

Scientific

Analytical

Based on emotional balance

Thus, Richards modernizes the concept of imagination.

Psychological Approach

Richards was influenced by psychology.

He believed:

Human mind contains impulses.

Art organizes these impulses.

Imagination harmonizes emotional conflicts.

So imagination is not mystical but mental coordination.

Importance of Richards’ Theory

It gives scientific explanation of imagination.

It connects poetry with psychology.

It shifts focus from poet to reader’s response.

It influenced modern practical criticism.

His ideas laid foundation for modern literary analysis.

Critical Evaluation

Merits:

Logical and scientific explanation.

Connects literature with psychology.

Explains emotional effect clearly.

Focuses on reader’s experience.

Demerits:

Reduces poetry to psychological balance.

Ignores social and cultural aspects.

Too analytical, less emotional.

Conclusion

According to I. A. Richards, imagination is not divine inspiration but a psychological process that organizes and balances human emotions. It creates harmony among conflicting impulses and gives order to experience.

Imagination, therefore, is the mental power that transforms emotional chaos into artistic harmony. It is the foundation of poetic value and aesthetic experience.

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