New Criticism

Definition

New Criticism is a formalist approach to literary analysis that emerged in the early to mid-20th century, emphasizing the close reading of texts and focusing on the text itself rather than authorial intent or historical context. This method prioritizes the examination of elements such as imagery, symbolism, and structure, allowing for a deeper understanding of the work's meaning and aesthetic qualities. New Criticism aims to uncover how various elements within a poem or narrative interact to create a unified whole.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. New Criticism gained prominence in the 1940s and 1950s, largely influenced by critics such as John Crowe Ransom, Cleanth Brooks, and W.K. Wimsatt.
2. This approach challenged traditional biographical and historical readings of literature by asserting that the text alone should be the primary focus of analysis.
3. New Critics often argued against the relevance of authorial biography and intended meaning, promoting the idea that meaning is inherent within the text itself.
4. The methodology is particularly applicable to poetry, where the interplay of form and content can be analyzed for its rich layers of meaning.
5. Although New Criticism has faced criticism for its limitations, it laid the groundwork for subsequent literary theories and remains influential in literary studies today.

Review Questions

• How does New Criticism differ from other literary analysis approaches regarding the role of the author?
  • New Criticism fundamentally differs from other approaches by emphasizing that a text should be analyzed independently of its author. While biographical criticism seeks to understand an author's life and intentions as key components of meaning, New Criticism posits that the author's intent is irrelevant. Instead, it focuses solely on the text itself, analyzing its formal elements and internal relationships to uncover meaning.
• Discuss how New Criticism can be applied to analyze Victorian poetry effectively.
  • New Criticism can be particularly effective in analyzing Victorian poetry due to its emphasis on close reading and structural analysis. By concentrating on aspects such as meter, rhyme schemes, imagery, and symbolism within the poems, one can reveal deeper meanings embedded in the text. This approach allows readers to explore how specific poetic techniques contribute to overall themes without considering external factors like historical context or poet's biography.
• Evaluate the impact of New Criticism on modern literary theory and its relevance in studying authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald.
  • New Criticism has significantly influenced modern literary theory by introducing formalist techniques that prioritize textual analysis over contextual interpretation. This impact is evident when studying authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald, as critics can examine elements such as narrative structure, motifs, and symbols in works like 'The Great Gatsby.' By applying New Critical methods, one can uncover complex themes related to wealth and morality within Fitzgerald's writing while maintaining a focus on the text itself, thus highlighting the enduring relevance of this approach in literary studies.

Related terms

Close Reading: A careful and detailed analysis of a literary text, focusing on its language, structure, and meaning to reveal deeper insights.

Intentional Fallacy: The belief that a text should not be judged based on the author's intended meaning but rather on its own intrinsic qualities.

Affective Fallacy: The idea that a reader's emotional response to a text should not be considered in the evaluation of its meaning or quality.