An Introduction To Literary Criticism By B Prasad (TESTED)

B. Prasad's An Introduction to English Criticism serves as a foundational, accessible guide for students, outlining the evolution of critical thought from classical to modern periods. It provides a thematic breakdown of major critics, including Aristotle, Sidney, Wordsworth, and Eliot, focusing on key aspects like genre knowledge and objective judgment. Read more on the book's overview at University of Calicut

Triunity An Introduction to English Criticism by B. Prasad - B3books An Introduction To Literary Criticism By B Prasad

6. Sample Excerpt (Illustrative – not a direct quote, but representative of Prasad’s style)

“Criticism does not exist for the sake of the critic, nor even for the sake of the reader, but for the sake of literature itself. The true critic is a mediator between the creative writer and the public. He does not impose his opinion but illuminates the text. His first duty is to understand, his second to explain, and his third – if necessary – to judge.” “Criticism does not exist for the sake of

1. The Art of Summarization

Prasad’s greatest skill is distillation. He takes Coleridge’s notoriously complex Biographia Literaria and reduces the primary argument about primary and secondary imagination into two clear paragraphs. For a student facing exams in a week, this is invaluable. his second to explain

C. Romantic and Victorian Criticism

This section marks the shift from prescriptive rules to the expressive power of the imagination.

Wordsworth and Coleridge: Prasad provides a comprehensive look at the Lyrical Ballads preface, explaining Wordsworth’s definition of poetry as the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings." He also dissects Coleridge’s Biographia Literaria, differentiating between Fancy and Imagination.
Matthew Arnold: The report notes Prasad’s coverage of Arnold’s "Touchstone Method" and the high seriousness required for great literature.