Before diving into English critics, Prasad establishes the essential roots of all Western literary theory. This foundational section covers:
The final sections of the book introduce 20th-century developments, showcasing how criticism shifted from historical evaluation to textual analysis and psychological interpretation.
Viewed literature as a "criticism of life." He advocated for objective standards using his famous "Touchstone Method" to compare new works against past masterpieces. Part 3: The Dawn of Modern Criticism An Introduction To Literary Criticism By B Prasad
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An Introduction to Literary Criticism by B. Prasad is the bridge between being a "casual reader" and a "literary critic." It provides the vocabulary and the historical context necessary to look behind the curtain of a poem or play and understand the mechanics of its greatness. Before diving into English critics, Prasad establishes the
One common student critique is that the . Some have found "long sentences" that make it a challenge to get through the content easily. Others have noted that while the book is comprehensive in scope, some sections feel superficial , with too little depth dedicated to each critic. A reviewer on Amazon.co.uk expressed this sentiment directly, stating the book has "far too little content on each subject. Some subjects are utterly pointless and give the reader absolutely no facts or knowledge".
: It explores the roots of criticism in ancient Greece and Rome, detailing the theories of Plato (on the emotional appeal of poetry), Aristotle (on tragedy and catharsis), Horace , and Longinus . Part 3: The Dawn of Modern Criticism This
: Recognized as the father of English criticism, Dryden’s An Essay of Dramatic Poesy is broken down to show the debate between French classical rules and English dramatic freedom.
The book contrasts the rigid, rule-bound criticism of Dr. Johnson with the emotional liberation of the Romantic period. Prasad details Wordsworth’s definition of poetry as "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" and Coleridge’s deep philosophical distinction between Fancy and Imagination. Matthew Arnold
: The book details Eliot's concepts of "Impersonality in Art" and the "Objective Correlative," which argued that a poet's personality should remain separate from their poetry.
Ultimately, B. Prasad’s An Introduction to Literary Criticism is a classic. It is a product of its time—a rigorous, scholarly, and linear introduction to the vast history of critical thought. While a modern student might occasionally find its language dense or yearn for more practical criticism exercises, the book remains a reliable and comprehensive road map through the first 2,500 years of literary theory. It continues to succeed in its stated goal: to lay the foundations for a proper understanding of the intricacies of English literature. For anyone embarking on the journey of literary studies, Prasad’s book remains a stalwart and worthy first companion.