Literary Criticism - An Introduction
Unlocking the Layers: An Introduction to Literary Criticism When we read a book, watch a play, or listen to a song, our first reaction is often emotional. We like it, we hate it, or it makes us think. But what happens when we move beyond that initial feeling to ask why and how a piece of writing works? This is where literary criticism begins. What is Literary Criticism? Literary criticism is not "criticizing" in the sense of finding fault. Instead, it is a secondary form of writing that deals with the conception, composition, and consumption of creative literature (Rahman, 2018). While a novel or poem is considered "primary fiction," a piece of criticism is a logically framed discussion that seeks to describe, analyze, and evaluate that work (Rahman, 2018; Saksono et al., 2016). Essentially, it acts as a bridge between the author’s agenda and the audience’s needs (Saksono et al., 2016). A critic is a judge—not a denouncer—who uses specific criteria to interpret the ...