5 Questions
Who is credited with developing new historicism?
Stephen Greenblatt
When did new historicism first develop?
1980s
What term did Stephen Greenblatt coin to describe this form of literary theory?
new historicism
According to Harold Aram Veeser, what are some key assumptions of new historicism?
That every expressive act is embedded in a network of material practices; that every act of unmasking, critique and opposition uses the tools it condemns and risks falling prey to the practice it exposes
What is the aim of new historicism?
To understand intellectual history through literature and literature through its cultural context
Study Notes
New Historicism
- Stephen Greenblatt is credited with developing new historicism.
Origins
- New historicism first developed in the 1980s.
Key Concepts
- Stephen Greenblatt coined the term "cultural poetics" to describe this form of literary theory.
Assumptions
- According to Harold Aram Veeser, key assumptions of new historicism include: • A rejection of the idea that literary texts can be understood in isolation from their historical context. • A focus on the material conditions and cultural practices that shape literary production and reception. • An emphasis on the complexities and nuances of historical contexts.
Goals
- The aim of new historicism is to analyze literary texts in relation to the historical and cultural contexts in which they were written.
Test your knowledge of New Historicism with this quiz! Explore the key concepts, influential figures like Stephen Greenblatt, and the impact of this literary theory on understanding intellectual history and cultural context through literature.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
