A History of Literary Criticism

The eighth episode of A History of Literary Criticism. Today’s focus is a section of Plotinus’ Fifth Ennead titled On the Intellectual Beauty. I’ll discuss a little of the author biography first, then three key principles I think are vital to understanding his work, his version of the creation myth and the implications of his philosophy for art, artists and readers.

The seventh episode of A Histoy of Literary Criticism. For today’s episode, we return to the study of rhetoric with a discussion of Quintilian’s Institutio Oratoria. First I’ll outline Quintilian’s biography and the social context in which he lived, then I’ll give a brief overview of Institutio Oratoria before focusing on books 8, 9 and 12, which are the excerpts included in The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism.

The sixth episode of A History of Literary Criticism. The focus of today’s episode is a concept which, according to the The Sublime Reader, has interested a wide range of thinkers, including Guo Xi, Friedrich Schiller, Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley, Julia Kristeva and Frederic Jameson. Not only that, but Longinus’ work, according to G.M.A. Grube, ‘has a good claim to be considered the most enlightening critical document extant from antiquity, even in its present fragmentary state’.

I'm back! With some grand plans!

Episode Five of "The History of Literary Criticism" podcast. Today I will be discussing Ars Poetica by Horace. This is quite a complicated work and I really enjoyed reading about it, so the episode is a little longer than usual today. First I’ll discuss Horace’s biography, then some general comments about the form of Ars Poetica, then the summary of the content and general responses, as in previous episodes.

Aristotle's Rhetoric This episode discusses Aristotle's Rhetoric, including context, a summary, and discussion of Aristotle's work in a more contemporary context. A transcript of the episode, with references, is available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/18heiN1D3fnCVGauSWi9bge8vgC3FZcom/view?usp=sharing

The third episode of the podcast A History of Literary Criticism. This week’s episode discusses Aristotle’s "Poetics" including some biographical information, and important concepts from Aristotle’s broader work. A script of the episode with references is available on the website www.ahistoryofliterarycriticism.wordpress.com.

The second episode of the podcast A History of Literary Criticism. This week’s episode outlines Plato’s criticism including social and historical context, his opinions from Books 2, 3, and 10 of The Republic and the implications of his work today. A script of the episode with references is available on the website www.ahistoryofliterarycriticism.wordpress.com.

Dive into the world of literary criticism as key questions about literature and reading unfold. Explore the evolution of theories like mimetic and didactic, revealing how they reflect cultural intricacies. Discover how a contemporary novel, 'Three Daughters of Eve,' exemplifies the rich insights offered by diverse critical perspectives. The discussion emphasizes the importance of interpretation and invites listeners to engage in shaping future topics, making the exploration of literature both profound and interactive.