Table of Contents
Welcome to Literary Criticism and Theory. We begin with Classical Criticism, the foundational bedrock of Western literary thought. Plato (427?–347 B.C.) established the first philosophical frameworks regarding the nature, value, and danger of art. For UGC NET aspirants, understanding Plato's Theory of Forms and his specific arguments for banishing poets from his Ideal State is essential.
1. Plato: Dialogues & The Realm of Ideas
Plato was a disciple of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle. In 387 B.C., he founded the Academy near Athens, widely considered the first great Western institution of learning 🏆 Asked in Exam.
- Major Dialogues 🏆 Asked in Exam: His central philosophical canon includes The Republic, Phaedo, Symposium, and Timaeus.
- Key Themes: He explored the soul, justice, the cosmos, and truth, proposing the immortality of the rational soul and introducing concepts like the Demiurge and the World Soul.
- Neo-Platonism 🏆 Asked in Exam: Founded later by Plotinus and Porphyry, Neo-Platonists attempted to reconcile the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, arguing that art could guide the soul to truth.
2. The Republic: Justice & Theory of Forms
The Republic is a foundational philosophical dialogue focusing on politics, education, art, and metaphysics. The central question it seeks to answer is: “Why should I be just?”
The Divided Line 🏆 Asked in Exam
In The Republic, Plato divides reality into two distinct realms:
- The Visible Realm: The world we perceive with our senses. It is characterized by flux, multiplicity, and imperfection.
- The Intelligible Realm: The realm of the mind and reason. It is changeless, unified, and eternal. This is the realm of the Theory of Forms (or Ideas).
Physical objects only "partake" in the eternal Forms. For example, a physical object is only beautiful because it participates in the eternal, perfect Form of Beauty.
3. The Allegory of the Cave
The Allegory of the Cave is central to understanding Plato's epistemology (theory of knowledge) and his views on education 🏆 Asked in Exam.
The Ascent to Truth
In the allegory, prisoners are chained in a dark cave, mistaking shadows cast on the wall for reality. A freed prisoner ascends out of the cave and eventually sees the sun (symbolizing ultimate truth). The allegory demonstrates the painful ascent from ignorance (the visible realm) to knowledge (the intelligible realm).
4. Plato's Critique of Poetry & Art
Plato is the root of Western literary criticism because he formulated the first systematic critique of poetry, arguing it should be banished from the Ideal State 🏆 Asked in Exam.
Epistemological Objection
Art is an imitation of reality (mimesis). Because physical reality is already an imitation of the eternal Forms, art is a "copy of a copy" and is twice removed from reality 🏆 Asked in Exam. It offers illusions, not true knowledge.
Psychological Objection
Poets write by sudden inspiration (like madness), not reason. Poetry stirs irrational emotions and weakens logical reasoning, making it dangerous for citizens 🏆 Asked in Exam.
Moral Objection
Poetry treats virtue and vice equally and is the "mother of lies," failing to cultivate intellect or moral character.
This critique sparked centuries of debate. Sir Philip Sidney's Apology for Poetry refuted Plato, arguing "the poet nothing affirms, and therefore never lieth," stating poetry teaches and delights 🏆 Asked in Exam.
5. The Idea of the Good & Philosopher Kings
Plato’s highest principle is the Idea of the Good, which he compares to the sun. Just as the sun enables sight and growth in the visible world, the Good enables knowledge and existence in the intelligible realm.
- Philosopher Kings: Because only philosophers, through rigorous education, can grasp the Idea of the Good, Plato argued that philosophers alone should rule the state to ensure governance aligns with cosmic harmony.
- On Drama: Plato extended his critique to theatre, arguing that drama dissolves rational control into collective emotional responses, heavily relying on quarrels, lamentations, and flawed characters for public reaction.
6. Match the List: Key Exam Concepts
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does "Twice removed from reality" mean?
According to Plato's Theory of Forms, the ultimate reality is the Idea/Form (e.g., the concept of a bed made by God). The physical object (a wooden bed made by a carpenter) is an imitation of that Idea (once removed). A painting of that bed by an artist is an imitation of the physical object. Therefore, art is an imitation of an imitation, making it twice removed from actual truth.
Who were the main speakers in Plato's Republic?
The primary speaker and driving philosophical force is Socrates, who serves as Plato's mouthpiece. His main interlocutors (the people he argues with) throughout the dialogue are Glaucon and Adeimantus, who are actually Plato's older brothers.
Why did Plato believe poetry corrupted the soul?
Plato divided the human soul into rational, spirited, and appetitive parts. He believed poetry and drama heavily appealed to the lower, irrational emotions (pity, fear, laughter) rather than the highest faculty of reason. By constantly feeding and indulging these emotions, poetry disrupts the harmony of the soul and makes citizens less capable of rational thought.
