Key Figures and Concepts in Literary Criticism
I.A. Richards: The Psychological Basis of Value
Richards addressed a fundamental question: How can we determine the value of art when traditional morals are declining?
His answer posits that value originates in psychology, specifically in the arrangement and balance of human desires.
Core Concepts in Richards’ Theory
- Impulses: Humans possess numerous desires that frequently clash. Society attempts to shape these impulses but never fully controls them.
- Appetencies and Aversions: Appetencies are desires
Celtic, Roman, and Scandinavian Roots of the English Nation
The Foundations of Britain: Celts, Romans, and Language
The Early Inhabitants and Celtic Society
This section focuses on the early history of Britain. The origins of the Iberians are uncertain, leading to their designation. Historical records are sparse regarding whether they possessed ships, raising questions about how they crossed the Channel. The Irish, though lacking traditional ships, utilized a strange device for navigation, albeit without directional control.
The Celts originated in central
Read MoreThe Governess by Sarah Fielding: Themes, Characters, and 18th-Century Education
Sarah Fielding’s The Governess: A Landmark Novel
Author Profile: Sarah Fielding (1710–1768)
Sarah Fielding (1710–1768) was a respected British author and the sister of the novelist Henry Fielding. She was one of the eighteenth century’s most respected women writers. Sarah turned to writing professionally, becoming one of the first women authors who sought to make a living solely through her work.
Two of her famous works are The Adventures of David Simple and The Governess.
Publication Details
The
Read MoreCatalan Modernism: Literary Movement and Aesthetic Renewal
Catalan Modernism: A Cultural Renaissance
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Catalan literature recovered its quality and volume of works and authors, thanks to figures like Verdaguer, Oller, and Lieder, who elevated it to the level of European literature.
Core Ideals and Conflict
The modernists realized that Catalan culture in general, and literature in particular, could not recover lost originality while the decline continued under Spanish cultural models, which were often backward
Read MoreEssential Structures for Academic Writing and Text Analysis
Academic Writing Structures
For and Against Essay Structure
Presents the advantages and disadvantages of a topic.
Structure
- Introduction: Presents the topic.
- Paragraph 1: Arguments in favor.
- Paragraph 2: Arguments against.
- Conclusion: Summary or personal opinion (optional).
Useful Phrases
- On the one hand… / On the other hand…
- Some people think… / However… / In conclusion…
Opinion Essay Format
Expresses your personal opinion clearly.
Structure
- Introduction: Topic plus clear opinion.
- Paragraphs 1-2: Arguments
Literary Theory, Communication Modes, and Dramatic Forms
Convergence and Divergence in Literary Interpretation
A coincidence in interpretations is called **convergence**; the discrepancy is **divergence**. This phenomenon occurs when characters, themes, or situations are treated by a number of authors in a similar, common way. Divergence occurs in the recreation and modification that the author makes regarding the location, character, and so on.
Media Convergence and Divergence (MCM)
Convergence or divergence is often treated as a fact or a situational function
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