Critical Theory Since Plato

by Hazard Adams (Editor), Leroy Searle

CRITICAL THEORY SINCE PLATO is a chronologically-arranged anthology that presents a broad survey of the history and development of literary criticism and theory in Western culture. Written by two well-known scholars in the field of literary study, this well-respected text puts an emphasis on the individual contributors to the development of literary criticism, from Plato and Aristotle to the present.

Genres: Philosophy, Literary Criticism, Reference, Nonfiction, Theory, History, Classics

1568 pages, Hardcover

First published January 2, 1992

Reviews

[Ross Lampert · Rating 2 out of 5]

From Plato to the late 1960s, the search for a way to find meaning in literature seemed to go down one rabbit hole after another. By the end of Hazard's compilation, we get statements like this, from Murray Krieger, the last contributor: "For the poem as discourse and thing is motion and is in motion. Yet it is motion in stillness, the stillness that is at once moving and forever still." A self-licking ice cream cone of self-contradictory nonsense.

I have other complaints about this book. First, all of the contributors, as far as I can tell, are white males from Europe or North America. Did no women, no men or women of color, or from any other continent have anything meaningful to say about literature?

Second, the title suggests that this is a book containing literary criticism theories. In fact, it contains almost exclusively theories of criticism of poetry. Poetry is placed on a high pedestal, while prose, when mentioned at all, is relegated to a far lower position.

Third, once the selections reach the 20th century, only a few of the critical theories get any attention, primarily Marxism, structuralism, and "New Criticism." All the others, it seems, deserved no attention.

Fourth, the title suggests that the selected contributors will explain the background and basis for their theories. Instead, most spend their time criticizing the work of other, sometimes long-dead critics.

Perhaps this book works well, or can be made to work well, as a textbook, with the course instructor helping to provide context and meaning. Or for the professor or professional critic, it can provide a historical perspective on how theories of poetic criticism developed. For any other reader, it's not worth the time and trouble.

[sologdin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Indispensible for students of literature & literary theory. Designed principally for undergraduates, and providing a broad selection of western literary theory.

Not a substitute for actually reading all of the seminal texts, this volume will certainly fill the need for knowledge of the history of theory.

One of the best individual selections is Mazzoni's reading of Plato, in discussing Dante, regarding the functions of the fantastic and the icastic. The latter concerns the representation of things which have been found to exist, whereas the former concerns the representation of untrue things. It gets a bit more complicated than that, but the conclusion, following Aristotle, is that we should prefer the representation of credible impossibles to incredible possibles. Very slick.

[Atra Bou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains essays of great value for those who want to find writers who advocates the same opinions of a certain subject. I enjoyed reading Pope essay and discovering it. Also Oscar Wild's and Blake's
It is a must have for scholars, it serves as a dictionary for me whenever I want to find a writer who shares the same opinion as mine to backup my arguments.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine primer on the ways in which we think critically about literature, starting with Plato's Republic and stopping on the cusp of the contemporary theoretical quagmire. The prose is keen yet dense, and I can't believe I read quite as much of this book as I did.

[Nico · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course I read this for class as most people do, I certainly have not read all of the texts either, but (I am currently an undergrad so maybe I am wrong) it does seem to be a pretty great selection of critical theory since Plato. As someone else points out it is not a substitute for actually reading the texts but it does serve a good purpose to create a narrative of theory that goes from Plato all the way to the Post-Structuralists. Plus the book is incredibly cheap on Amazon rn so it’s not one of those textbooks that is impossible to get without financial aid in college.

I don’t think I wld recommend anyone read it unless you are also an English undergrad or a professor. But it does, at the very least, serve some interest in locating the history of theory and pointing the way to learn about more theorists you may never have heard about.

Funny anecdote: my professor who is teaching the intro to lit theory class was a student of Adams or Searle, I don’t remember which, and he asked him a question about Derrida. To which the one of the professors, who didn’t like Derrida at all, said I will not waste my time on him, here’s Derrida’s number. So this then-student now professor just called up Derrida to ask him questions. Derrida apparently was clearly annoyed but once he realised that Adams or Searle gave his number out, thought it was pretty funny and answered some of his questions.

Also this same teacher is like a jokey Deleuzian guy, it’s entertaining and chaotic, I’m most of the time unsure of where the class will go.

[Jerrid Wolflick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a great keeper of college textbooks, but this one was different. I was enamored in the first twenty pages and read the entire book even though only parts of it were assigned. It is one of the finest overviews of how critical theory came into being and evolved from the Classical Greeks through Spivak and LaClau. It presents opposing ideas in the field as well as allowing a reader to compare these differing ideas in close proximity.

[Stephen]

Obviously, this isn't the kind of book that most people read from cover to cover, and neither did I, but it's a great volume to have around. I have especially appreciated discovering, or just having available, all the stuff in the big middle--between Plato and say, Barthes--which doesn't get taught in many critical theory surveys.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My major textbook in graduate school. Taught me a way of thinking.

[Daniel]

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Renaissance literary theory and practice

[Feliks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consider this the most useful and salient collection of critical theory I've ever encountered. Adams gathers togther a very choice collection of essays, private letters, tributes, speeches, reviews and arguments which have trickled down to us throughout the ages. The selections here come from Greco-Roman philosophers, Renaissance painters; medieval monks, courtiers, epic poets, Elizabethan playwrights, existentialists, religious historians, surrealists...a vast panorama of creative intellects breathe their opinions into this one weighty, handsome volume. Whether one is a student or a professor--if the field is the humanities--this book is a must-have on one's shelf.

[Dusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haven't formed much of an opinion about this book except: (1) it's freaking heavy; (2) its introductions to theorists and texts are well-written and informative; and (3) despite its heft and "well-writtenness" it seems to leave out quite a bit. In other words: It's an anthology.

[Utami Karismansyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buku yang keren, referensi paling lengkap yang berisi essay dari era Plato hingga kritikus post-modernisme. Ditunjang dengan jumlah halaman yang nyaris mencapai 1600 halaman, siap-siap berpetualang di dunia sastra dan filsafat :D

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great anthology that suggests a plausible trace of thought from Plato through Derrida.

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, useful... heavy, dense...

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that was a slog.

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not meant to be a critical theorist.

[sch]

College textbook. Want to reread someday.