Transcript Methods of Criticism

New Criticism
Also known as “Liberal Humanism,”
and
“Practical Criticism,”
A text without a context
is a literary artifact
New criticism began in England in the 1920s,
then moved to and had its greatest impact in
America. It remained popular until the 1970s,
and is still a widely-use teaching tool in
literature classes on all levels.
T. S. Eliot
(1888-1965)
“The central figure of twentieth century literary criticism”
Main Ideas:
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The text contains its own meaning and all
necessary information to discover its
meaning. No research is needed.
The poem has one, specific, limited,
recognizable meaning.
Literature uses language in special,
extraordinary ways. It is not the same as
ordinary, everyday language.
There is a defined literary tradition—the
“canon” of great works (usually by dead white
European males).
Literature teaches about life, especially moral
values.
Quotes:
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“In a successful work, form and content
cannot be separated…form is meaning”
(Brooks, Cleanth. “The Formalist Critics”
1366).
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Literature assumes the “autonomy of the
artist” (Ransom, John Crowe. “Criticism,
Inc.” 1115).
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“The goal of literary criticism is that of
attaining pure, disinterested knowledge”
(Barry 26).
Main Question:
What is the one meaning
of the poem, (expressed
through form and
technique)?
How to “do” a New Critical Reading:
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Focus on “the thing itself”.
Isolate the text from its context (ignore
history, biography, politics…)
Perform a close reading: “a meticulous
textual surgery”.
Pay attention to structure
Search for unity of form and content,
parts to whole.
Examine, one at a time, these
elements of the poem:
• Diction
• Allusions
• Images, symbols, figures of speech
• Rhythm & rhyme
• Tone, theme, & point of view
• irony, paradox, ambiguity
• tension & resolution
[Potentially] Positive Aspects
of New Criticism
• There is only one true interpretation.
• No extra research is necessary.
• It gives students an “objective” approach to
literature.
• “Close Reading” is easily taught and
repeated
[Potentially] Negative
Aspects
of New Criticism
• There is only one true interpretation
• It is an impersonal approach
• It separates literature from its context
• It only works really well on poems
Sources
Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and
Cultural Theory. 2nd edition. NY: Manchester UP, 2002.
Bressler, Charles E. Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and
Practice. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall,
2007.
Eliot, T. S. “Hamlet” in Eliot: Poems and Prose. NY,
Knopf/Everymanm 1998. 131-140.
- - - . “The Metaphysical Poets” (1921) in The Norton Anthology of
Theory and Criticism. 1098-1105.
- - - . “Tradition and the Individual Talent” (1919) in Criticism:
Major Statements. 404-410.
Kaplan, Charles and William Davis Anderson, eds. Criticism: Major
Statements. 4th edition. Boston, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000.
Leitch, Vincent B., gen. ed. The Norton Anthology of Theory and
Criticism. NY: Norton, 2001.