New Criticism and Literary Analysis

New Criticism and Literary Analysis

• New Criticism is a literary theory prevalent from the 1930s to the present day.
• It emphasizes the intrinsic qualities of a text and believes it is the best approach to understanding literature.

Extrinsic Criticism

• Extrinsic Criticism focuses on external factors like the author's life, historical context, or social influences.
• New Critics dismiss it as irrelevant, arguing that it detracts from the text's inherent meaning.

Unified Text

• Texts are considered unified, meaning they contain a cohesive structure and meaning.
• New Critics believe every element, including words, imagery, and symbolism, contributes to the text's overall meaning.

Close Reading

• A key method for understanding literature in New Criticism.
• It involves a meticulous examination of text to uncover complex relationships between elements:
  • Connotations: Implied meanings beyond literal definitions.
  • Paradox: Contradictory statements, creating tension and meaning.
  • Ambiguity: Multiple interpretations, enhancing richness and complexity.
  • Tension: Opposing forces, creating a dynamic interplay within the text.
  • Irony: Unexpected twists or discrepancies, challenging assumptions.
  • Patterns and Symbols: Recurring elements carrying symbolic significance.

New Critical Premises

• Affective Fallacy: Focusing on the reader's emotional response to the text is considered flawed.
• Intentional Fallacy: The author's intent is irrelevant; the text's meaning is independent.

The Whitman Example

• Illustrates how focusing on external factors like authorial intent can obscure the text's internal meaning.

Literary Analysis Structure

• New Criticism structures literary analysis by focusing on the text's internal elements and how they create a unified whole.

Symbolism in Literature

• Holds significant meaning in New Criticism, as it reflects the interconnectedness of various elements within the text.

Historical Context of New Criticism

• Emerged from the Formalist movement, a reaction against Romantic and Victorian emphasis on authorial intent.
• Influenced by the Fugitives and Agrarians, groups of Southern writers who championed traditional values.
• Key proponents: Allen Tate, Merrill Moore, Robert Penn Warren, John Crowe Ransom, and Donald Davidson.

Why New Criticism Dominated

• The historical context of the 1930s, with social upheaval and uncertainty, pushed for a more objective approach to understanding literature.
• The emphasis on unity and clarity resonated with a postwar desire for stability and meaning.

Why New Criticism Still Matters

• Its focus on text-based analysis and close reading is still relevant in literary studies.
• Its concepts like ambiguity, tension, and irony remain influential in interpreting complex works.

Explore the key concepts of New Criticism and its approach to literary analysis. This quiz delves into intrinsic and extrinsic criticism, the idea of a unified text, and the technique of close reading. Test your understanding of these fundamental principles!