Modernist criticism

When is modernist criticism?

Early 20th century

Who are the 3 key figures in modernist criticism

Bradley (critic)

Freud (psychologist)

T.S Elliot ( poet/critic)

What did Bradley write and why is it important?

Shakespearean tragedy and perhaps the most influential study of character criticism

What did Bradley diagnose as the root of Hamlet’s problems being

melancholia and used medical terms to describe his symptoms

What is Bradleys key quote?

‘Hamlet’s reflectiveness certainly might prove dangerous to him, and his genius might even become his doom’

What did Freud justify

His Oedipus complex using Hamlet

What was Frued’s backing behind this idea?

He could not kill Claudius because he technically did him a favour by killing old Hamlet because that is what he wanted to do all along because he has incestuous feelings for his mother

What did T.S Elliot do?

Tried to link Hamlet’s psychological problems with Shakespeare’s psychological problems

What did T.S Elliot argue?

The play is an ‘artistic failure’ because Hamlet’s emotions are too profound for what was causing his stress

Where does Elliot see Hamlet’s emotions rising from?

Shakespeare’s own depth of feeling

What did T.S Elliot state about the play- quote

‘it is the mona Lisa of literature’