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Literary Criticism
Azhar Hussain
Class of 2005, Cambridge University
Certified Overseas Teacher of English
Importance:
Criticism is essential part of one's life if he want to foster his writing and know what other people say about his
work. Samuel Johnson said, "I would rather be attacked than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can do to an
author is to be silent as to his works."
If an author is unnoticed it means no-one likes to read and people dislikes his writings so much that no-one
want to even comment on it. Criticism is like breaths of a person if it is bad you need to consult someone. In
the same manner if people are criticizing an author he can consult other writers or teachers to correct himself.
But, if he is not in the minds of anyone people are not interested in him at all.
Criticizing a person is also a bless. Writer knows that people want to correct me and they are telling me my
mistakes which he can correct. Also, when people criticize more people know about that person too. The next
time when writer improves his writing is welcomed by more audience then he can approach by his marketing
or PR.
If a person is unnoticed and there is no comment about his writing or writing style people won't believe on his
marketing campaigns too. They will think he's not a genuine person as if he was a real author at least anyone
has said something about him. If people have not praised him they have criticized. So, praising or criticizing
both are essential part of an author's life. One keeps him motivated and the other helps him correct his
mistakes.
Also, there are trends of society and if an author is not correctly portraying the current trends his writing
needed to be corrected by critics. People should be aware of what is correct description of situations and what
is wrong. To know the right or wrong in writings literature need a literary critic. This literary critic is VVIP of
literature and he's also treated as VVIP Very very important personality.
Birth of Literary Criticism:
Literary criticism is believed to be as old as literature itself. When people had started reading they had also
started liking or disliking of it that writing. People believed that literature is what we can live within it. Roman
empire lost thousands of years ago but in its literature they are still alive, doing their routines, rituals and love.
Conclusion:
Literary Criticism is as essential as literature itself. It gives literature a direction that is right for both writers and
his readers.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. What is literary criticism?
2. How do you differentiate criticism from a praise?
3. How do you criticize a literary work?
4. How can criticism be a motivation?
5. Why do you think criticism is essential in an individual’s life?