This lesson offers an insight into the various approaches to literary criticism. A critical approach may be defined as a systematic means of confronting, understanding and interpreting a literary text. As the term implies, it is the method which the reader consciously adopts to approach a text or get closer to a text and become familiar with it. A critical approach is not necessary if the reader's intention is to merely enjoy the text. However, it becomes essential the minute the reader subjects the text to closer scrutiny and analysis.

Critical approaches vary from text to text. They are defined by the skill, need, erudition, experience and objective of the individual researcher. They are also based on the general trends, theories, techniques, features and contexts applicable to a literary genre or a specific literary text.

There are several approaches to literary criticism. Wilbur Scott speaks of 5 approaches to literature. They are 'ariviyal anugumurai' i.e. (scientific approach), 'ulaviyal anugumurai' ie (psychological approach), 'samuthayaviyal anugumurai' i.e. (sociological approach), 'uruvaviyal anugumurai' i.e. (formalist approach), and 'tholpadimaviyal' i.e. (archetypal approach). There are several other approaches too such as historical, anthropological, Marxist, philosophical, aesthetic, linguistic, analytical, comparative, structural, post- structural, post-modern, dalit and feminist.

Of these the aesthetic approach is one of the oldest and most popular forms of critical approach. In this type of approach, the aesthetics of a literary text forms the basis of analysis. The aesthetic approach asserts the importance of form and style over content. Hence, it focuses on the various techniques used by the author to make the text aesthetically appealing. In Tamil T.K. Chidamabaranatha Mudaliar Known more as T.K.C popularized the aesthetic approach to literature. Kalki, Rajaji, Prof. A. Sreenivasaragavan, Prof. A. Muthusivan, P. Sri, T.M. Baskara Thondaiman, and Vidvan L. Shanmuga Sundaram who belonged to the literary circle founded by Rasikamani T.K.C were also some of the other notable proponents of the aesthetic approach. V. Ve. Su. Iyer and Ka. Na. Su. were two other literary giants who championed the aesthetic approach.