Podcast
Questions and Answers
What primary focus does New Criticism emphasize in literary analysis?
What primary focus does New Criticism emphasize in literary analysis?
Which book is considered a significant source for the name 'New Criticism'?
Which book is considered a significant source for the name 'New Criticism'?
Which of the following concepts did W.K. Wimsatt and Monroe Beardsley introduce?
Which of the following concepts did W.K. Wimsatt and Monroe Beardsley introduce?
In addition to Ransom, which scholar is noted for significant contributions to New Criticism's methodology?
In addition to Ransom, which scholar is noted for significant contributions to New Criticism's methodology?
Signup and view all the answers
Which poet's theories significantly influenced the New Critical canon?
Which poet's theories significantly influenced the New Critical canon?
Signup and view all the answers
Which approach did New Criticism react against?
Which approach did New Criticism react against?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one aspect that New Criticism tends to neglect according to its principles?
What is one aspect that New Criticism tends to neglect according to its principles?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following terms is linked to T.S. Eliot's discussions in his essays related to New Criticism?
Which of the following terms is linked to T.S. Eliot's discussions in his essays related to New Criticism?
Signup and view all the answers
Which literary form did New Criticism primarily emphasize in its close reading approach?
Which literary form did New Criticism primarily emphasize in its close reading approach?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main goal of examining a text through the lens of New Criticism?
What is the main goal of examining a text through the lens of New Criticism?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the New Critics aim to exclude from their analysis of literary texts?
What did the New Critics aim to exclude from their analysis of literary texts?
Signup and view all the answers
Which concept did Wimsatt and Beardsley argue against in their writings?
Which concept did Wimsatt and Beardsley argue against in their writings?
Signup and view all the answers
Which method became a staple of New Criticism in literary studies?
Which method became a staple of New Criticism in literary studies?
Signup and view all the answers
Who articulated the goals of New Criticism through notable essays?
Who articulated the goals of New Criticism through notable essays?
Signup and view all the answers
Which aspect was NOT a focus of the New Criticism?
Which aspect was NOT a focus of the New Criticism?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following was a result of New Criticism's influence?
Which of the following was a result of New Criticism's influence?
Signup and view all the answers
New Critics viewed the relationship between a text's structure and its meaning as:
New Critics viewed the relationship between a text's structure and its meaning as:
Signup and view all the answers
The New Critics primarily sought to reorient literary studies towards:
The New Critics primarily sought to reorient literary studies towards:
Signup and view all the answers
What is a primary criticism of the New Criticism approach?
What is a primary criticism of the New Criticism approach?
Signup and view all the answers
Cleanth Brooks argues that emphasizing the reader in literary criticism might lead to what issue?
Cleanth Brooks argues that emphasizing the reader in literary criticism might lead to what issue?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following goals do New Critics aim to achieve through their methodology?
Which of the following goals do New Critics aim to achieve through their methodology?
Signup and view all the answers
Which theory is frequently contrasted with New Criticism?
Which theory is frequently contrasted with New Criticism?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following texts is NOT associated with the New Critics?
Which of the following texts is NOT associated with the New Critics?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is characteristic of the New Criticism methodology?
Which of the following is characteristic of the New Criticism methodology?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
New Criticism Overview
- A formalist movement in literary theory that dominated American literary criticism in the mid-20th century.
- Emphasized close reading of literary works, especially poetry, viewing them as self-contained aesthetic objects.
- Developed in reaction to older philological and literary history approaches. These focused on the history of words, their relation to other languages, and authors' biographies, which critics believed distracted from the text's aesthetics.
Key Figures and Influences
- John Crowe Ransom: Author of "The New Criticism" and influential in the movement's development.
- I. A. Richards: A Cambridge scholar whose work on literary criticism and the meaning of language impacted the New Critical methodology.
- Cleanth Brooks, John Crowe Ransom, W. K. Wimsatt, and Monroe Beardsley: Major contributors.
- T. S. Eliot: His essays' concepts of "impersonality" and "objective correlative" were influential. His judgments on other poets were a part of the forming of the New Critical canon.
Core Principles
- Close Reading (Explication de texte): Careful scrutiny of the text's formal elements—rhyme, meter, setting, characterization, plot—to uncover meaning and theme.
- Focus on the Text Itself: Analysis avoided external factors like authorial intent, historical or cultural context, and reader response.
- Emphasis on Structure and Meaning: These were seen as interconnected, not separate.
- Rejection of "Intentional Fallacy" and "Affective Fallacy": Criticized analyzing a work based on the author's intent or a reader's emotional response as invalid methods.
Key Texts
- I. A. Richards: Practical Criticism, Principles of Literary Criticism, The Meaning of Meaning.
- William Empson: Seven Types of Ambiguity.
- T. S. Eliot: Essays "Tradition and the Individual Talent," "Hamlet and His Problems."
- John Crowe Ransom: Essays "Criticism, Inc.," "The Ontological Critic."
- Allen Tate: Essay "Miss Emily and the Bibliographer."
- Wimsatt and Beardsley: Essays "The Intentional Fallacy," "The Affective Fallacy."
- Cleanth Brooks: The Well Wrought Urn: Studies in the Structure of Poetry.
- Robert Penn Warren: Essay "Pure and Impure Poetry."
- Wellek and Warren: Theory of Literature.
Criticism of New Criticism
- Treated texts as autonomous, disregarding historical context.
- Considered uninterested in literature's human meaning, social function, and effect.
- Viewed as attempting to make literary criticism resemble an objective science.
- Critics argued the focus on the writing detached it from its creator; the reader and their reaction to the text is a fundamental part of "experiencing" a poem or novel
Lasting Impact and Legacy
- Some New Critical methods, like close reading, remain central to literary criticism.
- Influenced subsequent theoretical approaches such as poststructuralism, deconstruction, and reader-response theory.
- Anticipated insights of linguistic theory.
- Shown ideological and historical parallels with logical positivism.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz covers the essential concepts and key figures of the New Criticism movement in literary theory. Explore the formalist approach that emphasizes close reading and its impact on American literary criticism in the mid-20th century. You'll learn about influential theorists and their contributions to the field.
