Literary Criticism and Aesthetics in Literature

Abstract

The paper presents a critical review of Ismat Chugtai’s “Lihaaf” by discussing the genre, rhetorical and stylistic aspects of the literary text, in addition to the theme and its representation. It also contains a reflective note on what literature means and discusses its role in helping one understand and appreciate the elements of the word and the world. It discusses the ability of literature as a discipline to provide insights into our world and reaches beyond the discipline itself. By referring to the definition of aesthetic mode provided by Rosenblatt, the paper aims to highlight that literature offers aesthetic pleasure by tapping into cerebral and psycho-social aspects of life. Here, “Lihaaf” acts as the text to facilitate and support the aforementioned aspects of literature. Texts like “Lihaaf” introduce young readers to the genres of their interest to help develop tolerance of different cultures and encourage the sharing of different perspectives and interpretations.