Aspects of Literature

"Aspects of Literature" by John Middleton Murry is a compilation of literary essays written in the early 1900s that seeks to understand the purpose and practice of literary criticism. He analyzes the works and significance of various authors and literary figures, such as Edward Thomas and John Keats. Murry examines how literature and criticism change over time and what makes literature important, especially the function of criticism in pointing out these qualities. Murry begins by explaining that the essays represent his experiences as a critic and how he views literary criticism as more than just reviewing literature. He also discusses the need for critics to have dependable and reliable standards, while acknowledging the uncertainty in literary criticism during his time. He examines the author's role in society, the meaning and idea of aesthetic judgment, and how literature can change people, especially the works of respected poets and thinkers.