My advice to a budding literary critic would be as follows. Learn to distinguish banality. Remember that mediocrity thrives on ideas. Beware of the modish message. Ask yourself if the symbol you have detected is not your ownfootprint. Ignore allegories. By all means place the how above the what but do not let it be confused with the so what. Rely on the sudden erection of your small dorsal hairs. Do not drag in Freud at this point. All the rest depends on personal talent.
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Vladimir Nabokov offers valuable advice to aspiring literary critics in "Strong Opinions." He emphasizes the importance of identifying clichés and avoiding the pitfalls of mediocrity, which often stems from adopting popular ideas. He encourages critics to critically evaluate symbols and their own interpretations, steering clear of overanalyzing with concepts like allegories. Instead, he urges them to focus on the technique of writing rather than just the content and to rely on their own instincts.
Nabokov also warns against misidentifying personal biases and advises against letting psychological theories like Freud overshadow genuine critiques. Ultimately, he asserts that individual talent is paramount in literary criticism, suggesting that the critic’s unique perspective is what truly shapes their understanding and evaluation of literature.
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