Tradition and the Individual Talent
T S Eliot's essay Tradition and the Individual Talent (1919) is one of the most influential critical works of the 20th century. It explores the relationship between tradition and innovation in poetry ...
Preface to the Works of Shakespeare
Samuel Johnson's Preface to the Works of Shakespeare (1765) is a landmark work of literary criticism, offering a comprehensive evaluation of Shakespeare's achievements and enduring significance. Writt...
Preface to Lyrical Ballads
William Wordsworth's Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1800, expanded in 1802) is one of the most important texts in English literary criticism. It is a manifesto for the Romantic movement, outlining Wordsw...
The First Circle of Hell
Canto 4 of Inferno is part of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, an epic poem that traces the soul's journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory, and Heaven (Paradiso). In Canto 4, Dante explores the firs...
The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri is one of the most celebrated and influential works in world literature, written between 1308 and 1321. This epic poem is a profound spiritual and allegorical jour...
World Classics
The world's literary classics form a mosaic of humanity's most profound expressions, encompassing ancient epics, philosophical novels, and powerful dramas illuminating universal truths and individual ...
Four Kinds of Meaning
I A Richards, a prominent literary critic, introduced the concept of the "four kinds of meaning" in his influential book Practical Criticism (1929). Richards' theory was part of his effort to develop ...
Objective Criticism
Objective criticism is a significant approach in literary theory that emerged in the early 20th century, primarily associated with the New Criticism movement. It emphasises analysing a work of literat...
The Romantic and Victorian Era
The Romantic and Victorian periods were two of the most transformative eras in English literature, with each bringing distinct styles, themes, and philosophies to poetry and criticism. While the Roman...
The Decline of English Literature
The "decline of English literature" concept is often debated among scholars, critics, and readers alike. This decline does not necessarily imply a reduction in the quantity of literary works produced ...