What type of theory is the theory of moral criticism A mimetic B expressive C rhetorical D formal?

Answer 1

The theory of Moral Criticism seeks to address the effect/influence that the literature has on the morals of the reader, whether for good or bad.

In order to identify which type of theory it is, lets consider brief definitions of the theories offered:

• A. Mimetic Criticism concerns itself with how accurately the work reflects or mimics real life. To that extent, it can include moral criticism, but not necessarily.

• B. Expressive Criticism addresses how well the author expresses himself, conveying his thoughts and feelings to the reader.

• C. Rhetorical Criticism judges how well the writer's symbols (his word choice, form, style, structure and content etc) affect (move, act upon) the reader.

• D. Formal Criticism appraises a piece of literature on the basis of its form or style rather than its content.

While each of these theories approach the matter from different perspectives, option C, Rhetorical Criticism, seems to match the criteria because it considers the effect that the piece of literature has on the reader or audience. But not all literature that affects the morals of the reader is presented by the use of rhetoric, or rhetorical devices. Therefore the theory of Moral Criticism does not, at first glance, appear to be a rhetorical type of theory.

However, the theory of rhetorical criticism uses 'rhetorical' in a sense different to the one normally understood. Rhetorical criticism assesses how well the writer's 'symbols' (including 'words') affect the reader. Therefore Moral criticism, which evaluates how well the literature, obviously including its words ('symbols'), affects (influences the morality of) the reader, is clearly a Rhetorical type of criticism, and answer 'C. Rhetorical' would be the correct answer.