Literary criticism in the present day has become a profession — but it has ceased to be an art. Its object is no longer that of proving that certain literary work is good and other literary work is bad, in accordance with rules which the critic is able to define. English criticism at present rarely even pretends to go so far as this. It attempts, in the first place, to tell the public whether a book be or be not worth public attention; and, in the second place, so to describe the purport¹ of the work as to enable those who have not time or inclination² for reading it to feel that by a short cut they can become acquainted with its contents. Both these objects, if fairly well carried out, are salutary. Though the critic may not be a profound judge himself; though not unfrequently he be a young man making his first literary attempts, with tastes and judgment³ still unfixed, yet he probably has a conscience in the matter, and would not have been selected for that work had he not shown some aptitude⁴ for it. Though he may be not the best possible guide to the undiscerning, he will be better than no guide at all. Real substantial criticism must, from its nature, be costly⁵, and that which the public wants should at any rate be cheap. Advice is given to many thousands, which, though it may not be the best advice possible, is better than no advice at all. Then that description of the work criticised, that compressing of the much into very little — which is the work of many modern critics or reviewers — does enable many to know something of what is being said, who without it would know nothing.

I do not think it is incumbent⁷ on me at present to name periodicals in which this work is well done, and to make complaints of others by which it is scamped. I should give offence, and might probably be unjust. But I think I may certainly say that as some of these periodicals are certainly entitled to great praise for the manner in which the work is done generally, so are others open to very severe censure

点击收听单词发音  

1 purport
n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是...
参考例句：
Many theories purport to explain growth in terms of a single cause.许多理论都标榜以单一的原因解释生长。 Her letter may purport her forthcoming arrival.她的来信可能意味着她快要到了。

2 inclination
n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好
参考例句：
She greeted us with a slight inclination of the head.她微微点头向我们致意。 I did not feel the slightest inclination to hurry.我没有丝毫着急的意思。

3 judgment
n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见
参考例句：
The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。 He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

4 aptitude
n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资
参考例句：
That student has an aptitude for mathematics.那个学生有数学方面的天赋。 As a child,he showed an aptitude for the piano.在孩提时代，他显露出对于钢琴的天赋。

5 costly
adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的
参考例句：
It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。 This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

6 vice
n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的
参考例句：
He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。 They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

7 incumbent
adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的
参考例句：
He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。 It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

8 censure
v./n.责备；非难；责难
参考例句：
You must not censure him until you know the whole story.在弄清全部事实真相前不要谴责他。 His dishonest behaviour came under severe censure.他的不诚实行为受到了严厉指责。

9 virtue
n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力
参考例句：
He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。 You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

10 deplore
vt.哀叹，对...深感遗憾
参考例句：
I deplore what has happened.我为所发生的事深感愤慨。 There are many of us who deplore this lack of responsibility.我们中有许多人谴责这种不负责任的做法。

11 attainable
a.可达到的，可获得的
参考例句：
They set the limits of performance attainable. 它们确定着可达到的运行限度。 If objectives are to be meaningful to people, they must be clear, attainable, actionable, and verifiable. 如果目标对人们是具有意义的，则目标必须是清晰的，能达到的，可以行动的，以及可供检验的。

12 faculty
n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员
参考例句：
He has a great faculty for learning foreign languages.他有学习外语的天赋。 He has the faculty of saying the right thing at the right time.他有在恰当的时候说恰当的话的才智。

13 peculiar
adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的
参考例句：
He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。 He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

14 lamentable
adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的
参考例句：
This lamentable state of affairs lasted until 1947.这一令人遗憾的事态一直持续至1947年。 His practice of inebriation was lamentable.他的酗酒常闹得别人束手无策。

15 vindictive
adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的
参考例句：
I have no vindictive feelings about it.我对此没有恶意。 The vindictive little girl tore up her sister's papers.那个充满报复心的小女孩撕破了她姐姐的作业。

16 justify
vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护
参考例句：
He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。 Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

17 herald
vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎
参考例句：
In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。 Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。

18 metropolitan
adj.大城市的，大都会的
参考例句：
Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。 Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

19 wields
手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的第三人称单数 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响）
参考例句：
She wields enormous power within the party. 她操纵着党内大权。 He remains chairman, but wields little power at the company. 他还是主席，但在公司没有什么实权了。

20 doctrine
n.教义；主义；学说
参考例句：
He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。 The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

21 beget
v.引起；产生
参考例句：
Dragons beget dragons,phoenixes beget phoenixes.龙生龙，凤生凤。 Economic tensions beget political ones.经济紧张导致政治紧张。

22 begets
v.为…之生父( beget的第三人称单数 )；产生，引起
参考例句：
It begets at least seven standard type offspring from such matings. 这类交配中生下至少七个标准型后代。 来自辞典例句 Violence begets violence until the innocent perish with the guilty. 暴力招致暴力直到这因罪行而无缘无故的毁灭。 来自电影对白

23 motive
n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的
参考例句：
The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。 He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

24 hospitable
adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的
参考例句：
The man is very hospitable.He keeps open house for his friends and fellow-workers.那人十分好客，无论是他的朋友还是同事，他都盛情接待。 The locals are hospitable and welcoming.当地人热情好客。

25 laudatory
adj.赞扬的
参考例句：
Now,when Carrie heard Drouet's laudatory opinion of her dramatic ability,her body tingled with satisfaction.听到杜洛埃这么称道自己的演戏才能，她心满意足精神振奋。 Her teaching evaluations are among the most laudatory in this department.她的教学评估在本系是居最受颂扬者之中。

26 repudiated
v.（正式地）否认( repudiate的过去式和过去分词 )；拒绝接受；拒绝与…往来；拒不履行（法律义务）
参考例句：
All slanders and libels should be repudiated. 一切诬蔑不实之词，应予推倒。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 The Prime Minister has repudiated racist remarks made by a member of the Conservative Party. 首相已经驳斥了一个保守党成员的种族主义言论。 来自辞典例句

27 gnats
n.叮人小虫( gnat的名词复数 )
参考例句：
He decided that he might fire at all gnats. 他决定索性把鸡毛蒜皮都摊出来。 来自辞典例句 The air seemed to grow thick with fine white gnats. 空气似乎由于许多白色的小虫子而变得浑浊不堪。 来自辞典例句

28 pretence
n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰
参考例句：
The government abandoned any pretence of reform. 政府不再装模作样地进行改革。 He made a pretence of being happy at the party.晚会上他假装很高兴。

29 scruples
n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
I overcame my moral scruples. 我抛开了道德方面的顾虑。 I'm not ashamed of my scruples about your family. They were natural. 我并未因为对你家人的顾虑而感到羞耻。这种感觉是自然而然的。 来自疯狂英语突破英语语调

30 ridiculed
v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Biosphere 2 was ultimately ridiculed as a research debade, as exfravagant pseudoscience. 生物圈2号最终被讥讽为科研上的大失败，代价是昂贵的伪科学。 来自《简明英汉词典》 She ridiculed his insatiable greed. 她嘲笑他的贪得无厌。 来自《简明英汉词典》

31 touting
v.兜售( tout的现在分词 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报
参考例句：
He's been touting his novel around publishers for years. 他几年来一直到处找出版商兜售自己的小说。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Technology industry leaders are touting cars as a hot area for growth. 科技产业领袖吹捧为增长热点地区的汽车。 来自互联网

32 expended
v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽
参考例句：
She expended all her efforts on the care of home and children. 她把所有精力都花在料理家务和照顾孩子上。 The enemy had expended all their ammunition. 敌人已耗尽所有的弹药。 来自《简明英汉词典》

33 profuse
adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的
参考例句：
The hostess is profuse in her hospitality.女主人招待得十分周到。 There was a profuse crop of hair impending over the top of his face.一大绺头发垂在他额头上。

34 perpetuated
vt.使永存（perpetuate的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
This system perpetuated itself for several centuries. 这一制度维持了几个世纪。 I never before saw smile caught like that, and perpetuated. 我从来没有看见过谁的笑容陷入这样的窘况，而且持续不变。 来自辞典例句

35 dishonoured
a.不光彩的，不名誉的
参考例句：
You have dishonoured the name of the school. 你败坏了学校的名声。 We found that the bank had dishonoured some of our cheques. 我们发现银行拒绝兑现我们的部分支票。

36 intercourse
n.性交；交流，交往，交际
参考例句：
The magazine becomes a cultural medium of intercourse between the two peoples.该杂志成为两民族间文化交流的媒介。 There was close intercourse between them.他们过往很密。

37 gratitude
adj.感激，感谢
参考例句：
I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。 She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

38 wholesome
adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的
参考例句：
In actual fact the things I like doing are mostly wholesome.实际上我喜欢做的事大都是有助于增进身体健康的。 It is not wholesome to eat without washing your hands.不洗手吃饭是不卫生的。

39 meddle
v.干预，干涉，插手
参考例句：
I hope he doesn't try to meddle in my affairs.我希望他不来干预我的事情。 Do not meddle in things that do not concern you.别参与和自己无关的事。

40 plunge
v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲
参考例句：
Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。 That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

41 dictates
n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布
参考例句：
Convention dictates that a minister should resign in such a situation. 依照常规部长在这种情况下应该辞职。 来自《简明英汉词典》 He always follows the dictates of common sense. 他总是按常识行事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

42 disparaged
v.轻视( disparage的过去式和过去分词 )；贬低；批评；非难
参考例句：
French-Canadian fur trappers and Sioux disparaged such country as "bad lands. " 法语的加拿大毛皮捕兽器和苏人的贬低国家作为“坏土地”。 来自互联网 She disparaged her student's efforts. 她轻视她的学生做出的努力。 来自互联网

43 condemned
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。 The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

44 injustice
n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利
参考例句：
They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。 All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

45 consonant
n.辅音；adj.[音]符合的
参考例句：
The quality of this suit isn't quite consonant with its price.这套衣服的质量和价钱不相称。 These are common consonant clusters at the beginning of words.这些单词的开头有相同辅音组合。

46 shriek
v./n.尖叫，叫喊
参考例句：
Suddenly he began to shriek loudly.突然他开始大声尖叫起来。 People sometimes shriek because of terror,anger,or pain.人们有时会因为恐惧，气愤或疼痛而尖叫。

47 sputter
n.喷溅声；v.喷溅
参考例句：
The engine gave a sputter and died.引擎发出一阵劈啪声就熄火了。 Engines sputtered to life again.发动机噼啪噼啪地重新开动了。

48 belied
v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎
参考例句：
His bluff exterior belied a connoisseur of antiques. 他作风粗放，令人看不出他是古董鉴赏家。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Her smile belied her true feelings. 她的微笑掩饰了她的真实感情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

49 metaphor
n.隐喻，暗喻
参考例句：
Using metaphor,we say that computers have senses and a memory.打个比方，我们可以说计算机有感觉和记忆力。 In poetry the rose is often a metaphor for love.玫瑰在诗中通常作为爱的象征。

50 motives
n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 )
参考例句：
to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机 His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。

51 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

52 vehemently
adv. 热烈地
参考例句：
He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈，以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。 Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。

53 mentor
n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导
参考例句：
He fed on the great ideas of his mentor.他以他导师的伟大思想为支撑。 He had mentored scores of younger doctors.他指导过许多更年轻的医生。

54 concur
v.同意，意见一致，互助，同时发生
参考例句：
Wealth and happiness do not always concur.财富与幸福并非总是并存的。 I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done.我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。

55 wholesale
n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售
参考例句：
The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物，以零售价卖出。 Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。

56 honorarium
n.酬金，谢礼
参考例句：
Travel and hotel costs as well as an honorarium will be provided.我们提供旅费和住宿费以及酬金。 A group of residents agreed to conduct the survey for a small honorarium.一部分居民同意去进行这样的一个调查，在支付一小点酬金的情况下。

57 philosophical
adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的
参考例句：
The teacher couldn't answer the philosophical problem.老师不能解答这个哲学问题。 She is very philosophical about her bad luck.她对自己的不幸看得很开。

58 censured
v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 )
参考例句：
They were censured as traitors. 他们被指责为叛徒。 来自辞典例句 The judge censured the driver but didn't fine him. 法官责备了司机但没罚他款。 来自辞典例句

59 lasting
adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持
参考例句：
The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。 We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

60 sedulously
ad.孜孜不倦地
参考例句：
In this view they were sedulously abetted by their mother, aunts and other elderly female relatives. 在这方面，他们得到了他们的母亲，婶婶以及其它年长的女亲戚们孜孜不倦的怂恿。 The clerk laid the two sheets of paper alongside and sedulously compared their contents. 那职员把两张纸并排放在前面，仔细比较。

61 justified
a.正当的，有理的
参考例句：
She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。 The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

62 greasy
adj. 多脂的，油脂的
参考例句：
He bought a heavy-duty cleanser to clean his greasy oven.昨天他买了强力清洁剂来清洗油污的炉子。 You loathe the smell of greasy food when you are seasick.当你晕船时，你会厌恶油腻的气味。

63 invective
n.痛骂，恶意抨击
参考例句：
He retorted the invective on her.他用恶言讽刺还击她。 His command of irony and invective was said to be very classic and lethal.据说他嬉笑怒骂的本领是极其杰出的，令人无法招架的。

64 impartiality
n. 公平, 无私, 不偏
参考例句：
He shows impartiality and detachment. 他表现得不偏不倚，超然事外。 Impartiality is essential to a judge. 公平是当法官所必需的。

65 chaff
v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳
参考例句：
I didn't mind their chaff.我不在乎他们的玩笑。 Old birds are not caught with chaff.谷糠难诱老雀。