How do the expressive and constructive theories of literary composition differ?

In Western literary criticism, the expressive and constructive theories represent a long-standing antithesis regarding the nature of artistic creation.1

The Constructive Theory

The constructive school, famously represented by Aristotle in his Poetics, views the writer as a technician or architect. In this framework, the author designs and builds a work—much like a machine—specifically to elicit a calculated aesthetic response from an audience. This approach prioritizes the objective analysis of the work's internal structure and its functional impact on the reader.12

The Expressive Theory

Conversely, the expressive theory views the writer as a virtuoso. Here, the primary value of literature lies in the author’s ability to give voice to their own personality and the deepest realities of their inner world. The reader’s response is generated through a profound identification with the author’s self-expression.1

While these theories have historically defined opposing movements—such as Classicism versus Romanticism—many critics argue that this divide is artificial, as a successful work of art is typically both constructed and expressive.1