Principles of literary criticism

by I. A. (Ivor Armstrong) Richards

"Principles of Literary Criticism" by I. A. Richards is a scholarly work on literary criticism written in the early 20th century. The book dissects various critical theories, positing that a comprehensive understanding of literature must be rooted in psychological principles and theories of value. Richards aims to clarify how we evaluate art, noting the importance of communication in all forms of artistic expression. The opening of the work serves as both an introduction and a commentary on the current state of critique in the arts. It points out the chaotic landscape of existing literary theories, where despite the accessibility of artistic experiences, there remains a lack of coherent understanding surrounding the value of these experiences. Richards critiques past and contemporary critics, suggesting that while they have made notable observations, they often fail to answer the fundamental question of what makes an artistic experience valuable. Instead of providing mere conjectures, he argues for a systematic exploration through psychology, aiming for a critical framework that can properly organize and evaluate artistic ventures.