Anglo american new criticism

A fascinating topic!

Anglo-American New Criticism was a literary movement that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s in the United States and the United Kingdom. It was a response to the traditional approaches to literary criticism, which focused on historical and biographical contexts, authorial intentions, and moral or social messages. New Critics, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of close reading and analysis of the text itself, without considering external factors.

Key features of Anglo-American New Criticism:

  1. Close reading: New Critics believed that the best way to understand a text was to read it carefully and attentively, paying attention to the language, structure, and literary devices used.
  2. Formalism: They focused on the formal properties of the text, such as its structure, imagery, and symbolism, rather than its historical or cultural context.
  3. Autonomy of the text: New Critics believed that the text was a self-contained, autonomous entity that could be understood and analyzed independently of external factors.
  4. Rejection of biographical and historical criticism: They rejected the idea that a text's meaning could be determined by the author's biography, historical context, or social and cultural background.
  5. Emphasis on the text's internal coherence: New Critics sought to uncover the underlying patterns, structures, and themes that gave the text its coherence and unity.

Major figures associated with Anglo-American New Criticism:

  1. I.A. Richards: A British literary critic and philosopher who is often considered the founder of New Criticism.
  2. William Empson: A British literary critic and poet who was a key figure in the development of New Criticism.
  3. T.S. Eliot: An American-British poet, playwright, and literary critic who was influenced by New Criticism.
  4. Cleanth Brooks: An American literary critic and scholar who was a prominent figure in the development of New Criticism.
  5. Robert Penn Warren: An American poet, novelist, and literary critic who was associated with the New Criticism movement.

Some of the key texts associated with Anglo-American New Criticism:

  1. I.A. Richards' "Principles of Literary Criticism" (1924): A foundational text that laid out the principles of New Criticism.
  2. William Empson's "Seven Types of Ambiguity" (1924): A influential book that explored the complexities of language and meaning.
  3. T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" (1922): A modernist masterpiece that was heavily influenced by New Criticism.
  4. Cleanth Brooks' "The Well Wrought Urn" (1947): A influential book that explored the formal properties of poetry.

The impact of Anglo-American New Criticism:

  1. Shift from historical to formal criticism: New Criticism marked a significant shift away from historical and biographical criticism towards a focus on the formal properties of the text.
  2. Increased attention to literary theory: New Criticism led to a greater emphasis on literary theory and the development of new critical approaches.
  3. Influence on literary education: New Criticism had a significant impact on literary education, with many universities adopting a more formalist approach to teaching literature.

However, Anglo-American New Criticism has also been criticized for its:

  1. Overemphasis on form: Some critics argue that New Criticism's focus on form led to a neglect of the social and historical contexts in which literature was written.
  2. Limited scope: New Criticism's emphasis on close reading and formal analysis can lead to a narrow focus on the text itself, neglecting its broader cultural and historical significance.
  3. Exclusion of marginalized voices: New Criticism's emphasis on formal properties and close reading can lead to a neglect of marginalized voices and perspectives in literature.