Ph.D. Coursework Presentations

Art of Literary Research: Critic, Scholar, Researcher & Mind and Temperament of Research Scholar

This blog discusses two important ideas from the first chapter of Richard D. Altick's The Art of Literary Research. It begins by explaining the difference between a critic, a scholar, and a researcher, highlighting the unique role each plays in the study of literature. The blog then explores the qualities of mind and temperament that every research scholar should develop. To make these ideas easier to understand, it also includes insights from Prof. Dilip Barad's lectures on Altick's work, offering a practical and engaging perspective on the subject.

Video-1: Critic, Scholar, Researcher by Prof. Dilip Barad

This video on Richard D. Altick's "The Art of Literary Research" expands the discussion by showing that the roles of a critic, a scholar, and a researcher are not rigid categories but interconnected aspects of literary inquiry.

A critic primarily focuses on interpreting and evaluating a literary text, paying attention to its language, style, themes, and artistic value. A scholar, however, goes beyond the text to examine its historical, cultural, and intellectual background. According to the lecture, a critic gradually becomes a scholar when they begin to understand a literary work within its wider historical and social context.

Another significant idea discussed in the lecture is the importance of developing a vivid sense of history. A research scholar should be able to understand the thoughts, beliefs, and experiences of people from different historical periods while maintaining an objective and analytical perspective. This ability to connect the past with the present enables researchers to produce interpretations that are both meaningful and historically grounded.

For Example: To understand Altick's distinction more clearly, I can relate it to my own research on Imtiaz Ali's film scripts. A critic would examine the scripts by analyzing their characters, themes, symbolism, metaphors, dialogues, and narrative techniques to understand their artistic and literary value. A scholar would go beyond the scripts and explore the historical, cultural, and social contexts that shape these narratives, such as changing ideas of love, identity, belonging, and modern relationships in contemporary India. A researcher, however, combines both textual analysis and contextual understanding by applying relevant theoretical frameworks and a systematic research methodology. Through this approach, the study seeks not only to interpret the selected film scripts but also to contribute new knowledge to the existing body of literary and film studies.

• Critic: What does the text mean? (close reading)
• Scholar: Where does the text come from and what context shaped it?
• Researcher: What new knowledge can I produce using theory and methodology?

Video 2: Mind and Temperament of Research Scholar by Prof. Dilip Barad

In the second part of "The Art of Literary Research", Richard D. Altick shifts the discussion from what research is to what kind of person a researcher should become. He argues that successful research depends not only on technical skills but also on the scholar's mindset and temperament. 

A true research scholar possesses imagination, intellectual curiosity, originality, and a solid foundation of learning. Imagination, in particular, is not limited to creative writing; it enables scholars to ask fresh questions, explore new perspectives, and develop original interpretations of literary texts. As Prof. Dilip Barad explains in his lecture, research begins when a scholar is willing to look beyond conventional readings and approach familiar texts from an entirely new angle.

Altick also criticizes the academic culture of "publish or perish," where scholars are often compelled to publish for professional advancement rather than for the genuine pursuit of knowledge. Such pressure, he argues, can reduce research to a mechanical exercise and discourage meaningful scholarship. Instead, a happy and successful scholar is one who is motivated by curiosity and the joy of discovery rather than institutional demands. Research should contribute something valuable to the existing body of knowledge instead of merely increasing the number of publications.

Another important quality highlighted by Altick is resourcefulness. He observes that literary researchers can learn much from professions such as law and journalism, where every claim must be supported by evidence and every conclusion is based on careful investigation. Similarly, literary research requires scholars to collect reliable evidence, organise information systematically, and present convincing interpretations. As John Livingston Lowes reminds us, literary scholarship stands between scientific method and creative interpretation. Method provides the discipline, but interpretation remains the ultimate goal. In this sense, research in the humanities is not merely about gathering facts; it is about transforming those facts into meaningful insights that deepen our understanding of literature.

Works Cited

Altick, Richard Daniel, and John J. Fenstermaker. The art of literary research. Norton, 1993. Accessed 2 August 2026.

Barad, Dilip. “Art of Literary Research.” Blogger, https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2024/06/literary-reseach.html.

Barad, Dilip. “Critic, Researcher and Scholar | PhD Coursework | Batch 2020 |.” YouTube, 31 01 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6j0mE8lCd4.

Barad, Dilip, and MKBU DOE-. “Mind and Temperament of Research Scholar | PhD Coursework Sessions | Batch 2020 |.” YouTube, 31 01 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cebk1nzzrJw.

Nazir, Firdous. “The Spirit of Scholarship from The Art of Literary Research by Richard D. Altick: A Critical Summary.” IJIRT, vol. Volume 12, no. Issue 7, 2025. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN TECHNOLOGY, https://ijirt.org/publishedpaper/IJIRT189446_PAPER.pdf.