DSC 301 Plato's Republic. Book X. (1) 26,
Literary Criticism begins with Plato's Republic. He was born in . Socrates was his teacher. He became attracted towards Philosophy and Mathematics. In 487 BC he made his own Academy and taught ther Philosophy, Mathematics, Natural Science, etc. People around him revered immensely. Education was not in vogue then. It was mainly Homer who was taught in schools and treated Homer's works to Bible. Common people failed to apprehend Homer. Literature had become corrupt too. Philosophers had rose above literary men. It was at such time that Plato brought his book Republic and also reiterated Philosophy above literature. These social conditioning and the birth of Plato's books gave rise to systematic literary criticism. Book X of Republic consists Plato's Theory on art and illusion snd views on poetry which are in 3 parts: Inspiration, Imitation, and Condemnation of poetry. To him, poetry is immoral, emotional and intellectual. Poets lie about God. They show human weaknesses in...