Literary criticism is a kind of scales on which the works of poets and prose writers are placed. It allows separating the "wheat from the chaff", thereby revealing unique works in the diverse literary mass. But is it so easy to become a literary critic? In fact, it is quite difficult to become a good critic of literary works, as well as a specialist in any other direction.
Education
It is possible to correctly interpret, evaluate a literary work, find its merits and identify shortcomings only if one has a considerable store of knowledge in literary criticism, linguistics, logic, psychology, history, philosophy, etc. It is necessary to know the rules for constructing a text, defining a plot, using various literary techniques, analyzing a figurative system, etc.
To do this, you need to be a philologist and, possibly, a writer. It is philological education that provides the knowledge necessary for a given profession and directs it in the right direction. Although the connection between literary criticism and journalism is undoubted, since the former is of a journalistic nature.
The indivisibility of literature and criticism
It is impossible to become a literary critic without a great love of reading various literature. Plunge headlong into the world of literary works, read as many classical and modern works of different eras and nations as possible. As you know, everything is learned by comparison. There is a possibility that a work similar to the one you are studying as a critic has already been encountered in foreign or domestic literature before. Only after learning the history of literature, reading the works of famous authors, it is possible to reveal something new, special.
Yet knowledge alone in this creative matter is not enough. Only a talented critic with an innate literary instinct recognizes the "soul" of any work, reveals the writer's intention and can convey it to the reader. Sometimes the idea that the author put into the work is so veiled that one cannot do without a professional critic.
Undoubtedly, an excursion into the history of literary criticism will be useful in mastering this profession. This will allow you, studying reviews, articles of such well-known critics as N. A. Dobrolyubov, A. I. Solzhenitsyn and others to see the intricacies of this profession. Many of them are talented prose writers, poets, playwrights.
In general, the activity of criticism of literary works is rather unusual and attractive. If you are a philologist by education, have a literary flair, are talented, then, of course, you can safely try yourself in this creative work.
In search of valuable advice, as a beginner on this path, you can contact all kinds of associations and unions of professionals, including the Academy of Russian Contemporary Literature, the International Association of Literary Critics, and the Norwegian Association of Literary Critics.
