“实用批评”:缘起与目的

Practical Criticism: Origin and Purpose

瑞恰慈是20世纪文学批评的拓荒者和奠基人。他所创立的"实用批评"理论和方法使得英语文学教学和研究在20世纪二三十年代的剑桥大学迅速成为一个新兴的、制度化的学科。通过历史溯源和定性分析的方法重点梳理和辨析"实用批评"的缘起和意义。注重工具理性和实用价值是瑞恰慈构建"实用批评"的基本出发点。"实用批评"更为关注的是阅读而非批评,因此,培养学生的阅读和甄别判断能力便成为"实用批评"的主要目标。

I.A.Richards is a pathbreaker and one of the most important founders of 20th century literary criticism.He created the theory and method of"practical criticism"which quickly shapes the teaching of English literature into a new and disciplinary subject of higher learning in Cambridge and beyond.This paper discusses the origin and significance of"practical criticism"using basically a historical and analytical approach.The author argues that belief in instrumental rationality and practical value forms the initiative drive of"practical criticism."What it concerns about most is reading competence rather than literary criticism in a strict sense.Therefore,developing students’ability to read,differentiate and judge is the main purpose of"practical criticism."