New criticism

New Criticism was a literary movement that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, primarily in the United States. It was characterized by a focus on the text itself, rather than its historical or biographical context, and emphasized the importance of close reading and analysis of the language and structure of the work.

The New Critics, as they came to be known, rejected the traditional approaches to literary criticism, which often focused on the author's intentions, the historical context, or the social and cultural significance of the work. Instead, they emphasized the importance of understanding the text as a self-contained, autonomous work of art, with its own internal logic and structure.

Some of the key principles of New Criticism include:

  1. Close reading: New Critics believed that the best way to understand a text was to read it carefully and closely, paying attention to the language, imagery, and structure.
  2. Autonomy of the text: New Critics believed that the text was a self-contained, autonomous work of art, with its own internal logic and structure.
  3. Formalism: New Critics emphasized the importance of form and structure in the text, and believed that these elements were essential to understanding the work.
  4. Irony and ambiguity: New Critics believed that texts often contained irony and ambiguity, and that these elements were essential to understanding the work.
  5. The importance of the text itself: New Critics believed that the text was the most important thing, and that the author's intentions, the historical context, and other external factors were secondary.

Some of the key figures associated with New Criticism include:

  1. I.A. Richards: A British literary critic and philosopher, who is often credited with developing the principles of New Criticism.
  2. William Empson: A British literary critic and poet, who is known for his work on the ambiguity and complexity of language.
  3. T.S. Eliot: An American poet and critic, who is known for his work on the importance of form and structure in poetry.
  4. Cleanth Brooks: An American literary critic and scholar, who is known for his work on the importance of close reading and the autonomy of the text.
  5. Robert Penn Warren: An American poet and critic, who is known for his work on the importance of irony and ambiguity in literature.

Some of the key works associated with New Criticism include:

  1. I.A. Richards' "Principles of Literary Criticism" (1924): A foundational work that outlines the principles of New Criticism.
  2. T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" (1922): A poem that is often seen as a key example of New Critical principles.
  3. William Empson's "Seven Types of Ambiguity" (1924): A work that explores the complexity and ambiguity of language.
  4. Cleanth Brooks' "The Well Wrought Urn" (1947): A work that explores the importance of close reading and the autonomy of the text.
  5. Robert Penn Warren's "Understanding Poetry" (1938): A work that explores the importance of irony and ambiguity in literature.

Overall, New Criticism was an important movement in literary theory and criticism, and its principles continue to influence literary studies today.