What is the difference between literary theory and literary criticism?

Difference between literary theory and literary criticism?

Literary criticism and literary theory are two important terms that we encounter in literary studies. There are different views on the difference between literary criticism and literary theory; Some scholars use these two terms to describe the same concept, while other scholars see literary criticism as a practical application of literary theories.

Literary theory are the theories, while literary criticism is the evaluation or interpretation of the text. "Literary Theory" is the collection of ideas and goals that we apply to the text to make reading the text practical. Through literary theory, we refer to the meaning of literature to theories that show what literature can mean. Literary theory are the underlying principles, one could say the lenses, that help us understand literature. Or we can say, literary theory is the various frameworks for evaluating and interpreting a particular work. All of these philosophical, sociological, and even psychological ideas are part of literary theory. Because they talk about the text and how it is written by the authors and how they write, and the readers approach a certain text while reading it.

Literary criticism traditionally when a critic reads a text and tries to interpret it. The literary critic works in the text to construct meaning. The traditional criticism that was there for the new criticism would find the history of literature and the contribution of the great writers and their works. He also wanted to look for a historical reference and context for the text. The certified author makes literary criticism. Literary criticism is the interpretation, evaluation, research and analysis of every single piece of literature. The first critic is Satan. It's as old as history.

Main difference

Literary theory has to do with the methods of distinguishing literary texts and the school of categories, classifications, and ideas that are clearly visible in literary texts. Literary criticism, on the other hand, is the practical study of a text or a text that can autonomously build on a certain literary theory that is deepened within certain limits and criteria. Literary theory understands the nature and function of literature and the relationship between text and author, reader and society. It can be called a framework that supports literary criticism. Literary theory consists of various scientific approaches to evaluating a study. In simple terms, they can be described as the different perspectives or angles that scientists use to evaluate literature. The main schools of literary theory include: Structuralism, Formalism, Reader response theory, Psychoanalysis theory, Postcolonialism and Marxism theory. 

Literary criticism is the interpretation, analysis and evaluation of literary texts. Literary theory is a step in literary criticism. One step further and perhaps the result of extensive literary criticism. For example, so-called structuralism or theoretical theory should be the result of the whole act of literary criticism that the theory can be put forward that certain elements are the model in many literary works - groups of people, ideas, subjects, etc.