T. S. Eliot’s “Tradition and the Individual Talent” T. S. Eliot’s “Tradition and the Individual Talent” T. S. Eliot’s essay “Tradition and the Individual Talent” is one of the most influential works of modern literary criticism. In this essay, Eliot explains what he means by “tradition,” how poets s...
Matthew Arnold’s “The Study of Poetry” Matthew Arnold’s “The Study of Poetry” Matthew Arnold’s essay “The Study of Poetry” is one of the most important works of literary criticism in English literature. In this essay, Arnold explains why poetry is important, how it should be judged, and what role it...
Keats’s Concept of Negative Capability Keats’s Concept of Negative Capability John Keats’s idea of negative capability is one of the most important and influential concepts in Romantic literary theory. Although Keats mentioned the term only once, in a letter written in December 1817 to his brothers ...
Henry James’ “The Art of Fiction” Henry James’ “The Art of Fiction” Henry James’s essay “The Art of Fiction” (1884) is one of the most important critical essays on the novel ever written. In this essay, James defends the novel as a serious art form and explains what he believes makes fiction great. ...
Longinus’s On the Sublime Longinus’s On the Sublime On the Sublime is one of the most important works of ancient literary criticism. It is traditionally attributed to Longinus, though the exact identity of the author is uncertain. Written probably in the first century CE, the treatise is not just a ...