The book is a history of Western literary criticism and a general introduction to the subject of literary criticism and theory. It follows the survey approach, discussing English literary critics in a historical-chronological order. It is primarily designed to serve as a text/reference book for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Indian universities and colleges. The book deals with the critical texts that are prescribed for study in many M.A (English) courses in India. One section of the book surveys the contribution made by the ancient critics since knowledge of classical criticism is essential for an understanding of later developments. Another section (sixteenth to twentieth century) takes for close examination, individually, such of those critics as are prescribed in the curricula of M.A. courses in Indian universities and colleges. The last section on Contemporary Criticism, examines all the movements, with special emphasis on theorists who have initiated these movements. The section, A Glossary of Critical Terms, gives short explanatory notes on critical terms with which a student is expected to be familiar. The Select Bibliography lists important works on criticism which can be consulted for further reading and research.

This comprehensive guide to the history of literary criticism from antiquity to the present day provides an authoritative overview of the major movements, figures, and texts of literary criticism, as well as surveying their cultural, historical, and philosophical contexts. Supplies the cultural, historical and philosophical background to the literary criticism of each era Enables students to see the development of literary criticism in context Organised chronologically, from classical literary criticism through to deconstruction Considers a wide range of thinkers and events from the French Revolution to Freud’s views on civilization Can be used alongside any anthology of literary criticism or as a coherent stand-alone introduction

The history of the most hotly debated areas of literary theory, including structuralism and deconstruction.

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- 1. The Critical Revolution Turns Right -- 2. The Scholarly Turn -- 3. The Historicist/Contextualist Paradigm -- 4. The Critical Unconscious -- Conclusion: The Future of Criticism -- Appendix: The Critical Paradigm and T.S. Eliot -- Notes -- Acknowledgments -- Index

In the nineteenth century, literary criticism first developed into an autonomous, professional discipline in the universities. This volume provides a comprehensive and authoritative study of the vast field of literary criticism between 1830 and 1914. In over thirty essays written from a broad range of perspectives, international scholars examine the growth of literary criticism as an institution, and the major critical developments in diverse national traditions and in different genres, as well as the major movements of Realism, Naturalism, Symbolism and Decadence. The History offers a detailed focus on some of the era's great critical figures, such as Sainte-Beuve, Hippolyte Taine and Matthew Arnold, and includes essays devoted to the connections of literary criticism with other disciplines in science, the arts and Biblical studies. The publication of this volume marks the completion of the monumental Cambridge History of Literary Criticism from antiquity to the present day.