The Critic by Juhi Rubaba Jurana Jahan

T H E
CRITIC
Philip
Sidney’s
Apology for
poetry
STORY OF
STRUGGLE
JOHN
DRYDEN
NEW
VISION
of T.S. Elliot
greatcritic.com

Artists' Area
Coleridge Speaks Out
T
he tension arises as Samuel Taylor Coleridge
criticizes William Wordsworth on his creation
“Preface to Lyrical Ballads” in the newly released
essay “Biographia Literaria”. Coleridge hinted his
great dissatisfaction with preface that contains
totally different perceptions from him. Coleridge
mentions, Although the preface was supposedly a
collaboration, Wordsworth was not at all respectful
about Coleridge's opinion.
Friday, 8 September 2022
In “Preface to Lyrical Ballads”, Wordsworth has
indicated his appreciation for “rustic language”. He
states that it is not necessary to use ornamental
features and complex structures in order to create
good poetry. Finding beauty in natural or ordinary
aspects of poetry is something that he prefers more
than anything. This perception quite differs from
Coleridge’s as he gave importance to high and
supernatural thoughts accessed via imagination in
“Biographia Literaria”. Coleridge
also mentions that Wordsworth's
certain quality is that he is able to synthesize
naturalistic imagery and spiritual depth. However, the
depth is only admissible when one gives importance to
higher thoughts. Wordsworth attempts to unite the
concept of prose and poetry which is also criticized by
Coleridge as he draws a clear distinction between
these two. Coleridge clarifies that poetry is a metrical
composition. For the Romantic imagination, the
"Biographia Literaria" provides a crucial foundation.
Page 02

INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW SEGMENT
We have sat for an interview with the promising critic Thomas Stearns Eliot to find out his
thoughts about the aspects of poetry .This is where he introduces his unique perception to
us about the prospects of poetry.
" P O E T S A R E N O T I N S T R U C T E D
T O S I M P L Y I M I T A T E P O E T R Y . "
What do you think of the practice of
Tradition?
I think tradition should be positively discouraged.
it is better to be original and create something new
rather than repetition. The concept of tradition is
something that can not be passed down to
generations but it is something one must work
hard for to achieve it. It is a matter of great labor.
It is an objective matter and is connected to
historical sense.
What is the definition of tradition according
to you?
The meaning of tradition goes beyond the surface.
it is not what people generally mean when talking
in literature. Tradition can be somewhat
paradoxical because it is both what is timeless and
what is not. The pastness of the past is not only
should be prioritized but also its presence.
Can you tell us more about your preference
about impersonality?
More than personality it is important that one give
importance to impersonality which means when a
poet spontaneously chooses not to refer to his or
her personality in the poetry. Poetry is an escape
from personality not expression of personality.
How are past and present relevant in poetry?
Is not it questionable that the concept;
Tradition is somewhat related to
plagiarism?
Poets are not instructed to simply imitate poetry.
Like I have said, poetry should be done with
novelty in mind, not repeating certain concepts.
For this, one should have to keep up with the
contemporary aspects, to know what is new and
different. Thorough knowledge of the classic and
traditional are options for doing so. Following
tradition does not lack individuality but it builds
awareness of the whole of the literature of Europe.
When an individual gives importance to immortality of the poetic ancestors, the poet's true individuality
lies within it. The poets can be hugely influenced by the greatness of the past. When the poet is taking notes
from the past or is aware about the past they are eventually becoming a part of the contemporary area. If
you think about my work, they have the impact of Homer as well as the work of modern poets.
Page 03

Dryden's Diary
D.I.D.
Carrying Multiple Voices
John Dryden Opens Up
About Dissociative Identity
Disorder—What Is That?
John Dryden has spoken up
about being diagnosed with
Dissociative Identity Disorder
(D.I.D.), previously known as
Multiple Personality Disorder
where a person alternates
between one or more alternate
personalities. “All three
personalities are as important
and legitimate to me. I
appreciate the existence of my
personas because they offer me
reasons,” says the writer.
Dryden also mentions that
writing helped him through the
tough times; to disclose the
situation to his admirers. Each
personality is distinct and even
contradicts other’s notion on
the subject.
Here's what to know about
Dryden’s different phonolites.
Dryden went through
conversation on the subject of
drama, where he offers
different perceptions about it
through his different
personalities who are-
Eugenius, Crites, Lisideius, and
Neander.
The four characters are
representing four critical
aspect. Dryden opens a debate
on the virtues of modern and
ancient writers. One of the
alters, which is Crites, reflects
his appreciation towards
ancient classical drama. The
dramatic rules they established
were spelled out by Aristotle
through “imitation of life”.
This perception is contradicted
by the other alter which is
Eugenius as he favors moderns
over ancient dramatists. We get
to know about the dynamic
attitude towards one concept.
Another personality gives a
new perspective about drama.
Lisideius introduces his support
for French dramas. One of the
reasons for his likeness for
French dramas is that the never
blur the line between tragedy
and comedy. Neander on the
contrary favors Elizabethans or
English dramas where they
have the concept of mixture of
tradegy and comedy.
According to him Tragicomedy
sheds a new kind of light on
Dramas. It makes the dramas
much more interesting.
Page 04

Ballads
BALLADS
Perfume
INTRODUCING THE NEW FRAGRANCE FOR ALL

Opinion
Johnson Contradicts Himself!?
Through the essay “Preface to Shakespeare“, Johnson hints the different
views which contradicts his own perception .
While Samuel Johnson
brings forth William Shakespeare’s
various positive aspects, he also points
out the defects of Shakespeare’s
creations in his “Preface to
Shakespeare”. Many have criticized
Johnson for being contradictory in his
preface. At first, he praises Shakespeare
for being universal; not belonging to one
place, age or one certain time period.
However he contradicts himself as he
indicates that Shakespeare’s one of the
flaws is that he is being universal. As
clarity and diction is important to
Johnson, he criticizes Shakespeare's use
of language.
“Confidence is the common consequence of success. They whose
excellence of any kind has been loudly celebrated, are ready to conclude,
that their powers are universal.”
-Samuel Johnson, Preface to Shakespeare
Page 06

Public Choice
14.3%
7.1%
P.B. Shelley
3.6%
39.3%
Philip Sidney
10.7%
25%
Preferences on Poetry
Many chose the characteristics of poem from Percy Bysshe Shelley rather than
Philip Sidney's.
The portrayal of the anonymous survey report shows the preferences of public on
different notions about poetry. Each option are randomly but equally collected from
both Percy Bysshe Shelley and Philip Sidney. According to the Result, Shelly gets a
huge lead with the “Mimetic“ aspect that he mentions in his essay.
World’s Famous Romanticist
Percy Bysshe Shelly
Page 07

R E J O I N D E R
On the issue of
Matthew Arnold’s
new essay; “ The
Study of Poetry”
As per the release of the article mentioned in the August issue of The Critic
by Philip Anderson, he misquoted Matthew Arnold. Arnold defines poetry as
“A criticism of life under the conditions fixed for that criticism by the laws of
poetic truth and poetic beauty.” However Anderson only focused that poetry
is only “criticism of life”, missing ”under the conditions fixed for such a
criticism by the laws of poetic truth and poetic beauty". So we got a partial
view. It would be highly appreciated if he explains the definition, taking
whole part into consideration.
Page 08