New Criticism Overview

A formalist movement in literary theory focusing on close reading of texts, especially poetry, to analyze aesthetic qualities and self-referential meaning.

Literary theory emphasizing the form and structure of a work, rather than its historical context or author's intentions.

Careful analysis of a text to understand its structure, imagery, and language.

The mistaken belief that an author's intentions are relevant to judging the quality or meaning of their work.

The mistaken belief that a reader's emotional responses to a text should determine its value or meaning.

The idea that the meaning of a text is found within the text itself, not in external factors.

The features of a work that contribute to its beauty and artistic merit.

A work that is complete and independent in itself, needing no external factors for understanding.

The study of literature through its historical context and development.

Using observations and evidence to study something, rather than opinions or theories.

To shift the focus of literary studies from external factors (author's intent, historical context, reader response) back to analyzing the text itself.

New Critics rejected the subjective and emotional approach of literary appreciation, which focused on beauty and moral uplift, favoring a more objective and systematic method.

The New Critics prioritized textual analysis, focusing on the internal structure and meaning of the text, believing they were intrinsically connected.

A meticulous examination of a text to analyze its form, language, and themes, identifying key elements like paradox, irony, and tension.

Although no longer dominant, New Criticism's methods, particularly close reading, remain influential in literary analysis and have paved the way for later theories.

A reemergence of Southern Agrarianism, inspiring later critical theories like poststructuralism, deconstructionism, and reader-response.

It gained popularity rapidly, becoming dominant in American universities during the Cold War era, with famous texts like Understanding Poetry and Understanding Fiction.

To restore the focus on literary analysis, particularly of poetry, in American academia, which had been dominated by historical, social, and moral interpretations.

A literary work considered independent of its historical context and author's intentions.

This theory emphasizes the active role of the reader in creating meaning from a text.

The idea that meaning is not always intentional, but can be influenced by subconscious thoughts and societal influences.

The belief that individuals have free will and can make independent judgments based on reason.

The attempt to apply scientific methods and objectivity to literary analysis.

Acknowledging the reader's role in understanding a text, but emphasizing the importance of the work's own internal structure.

The concern that solely emphasizing individual interpretations could lead to a subjective understanding of literature.

A critical approach that examines how gender and sexuality influence literature and society.

This theory explores the impact of colonialism on literature and cultural identity.

The inherent quality of a text to stand on its own, independent of outside influences.