Study Notes on New Criticism

Definition: New Criticism is a literary theory that emerged in the United States in the early 20th century, gaining popularity particularly in the 1940s and 1950s.
Context: This movement was a reaction against the dominant literary theories of its time that concentrated on the historical or social contexts of literary works.
Influences: New Criticism was shaped by various intellectual and cultural trends:
- Formalism: Focused on the aesthetic qualities of literature.
- Modernism: Rejected traditional forms, highlighting individual creativity.
- Scientific Thinking: Advocated for analysis and objectivity in literary critique.
Key Figures: The term "New Criticism" was coined in the 1940s by American literary critic John Crowe Ransom, who was prominent in the movement. Other significant figures include:
- Cleanth Brooks
- Robert Penn Warren
- Allen Tate
- William Empson

Emphasis on Close Reading: New Critics focus on detailed analysis of texts, highlighting the importance of language, structure, and imagery.
Rejection of Extrinsic Factors:
- Authorial Intent: New Critics argue that a work should be understood independently of the author's intentions.
- Historical Context: They dismiss the relevance of the historical context when evaluating a literary work.
Focus on Formal Qualities: A literary work's structure, language, and imagery are central elements examined during analysis.
Literary Techniques: Techniques such as paradox, ambiguity, irony, and tension are employed to explore a work's complexity and its relationship with readers.

Close Reading: Detailed examination of a literary text to uncover its themes and meanings through its language, structure, and literary devices.
The Intentional Fallacy: The belief that an author's intentions do not determine the meaning of a literary work, which should stand on its own merits.
The Affective Fallacy: The rejection of the idea that a work’s value lies in its emotional impact on the reader.
The Heresy of Paraphrase: New Critics argue that a literary work cannot be simply summarized or paraphrased, as doing so would ignore its complexities and ambiguities.
Organic Unity: The idea that all elements of a work contribute to a unified and coherent whole.
Ambiguity: Interpreted as a sign of depth and complexity in literature.
Irony: Seen as a crucial device that reveals the multifaceted nature of human experience and provokes thought.
Paradox: Interesting elements that reveal contradictions within texts, encouraging further exploration of tensions.
Textual Autonomy: The belief that a literary work should be analyzed as an independent entity, without considering external factors like authorial intent or historical context.

John Crowe Ransom: Key figure in New Criticism; coined the term.
Cleanth Brooks: Noted for his book "The Well Wrought Urn," emphasizing close reading.
Robert Penn Warren: Associated with the Fugitive poets; also the first poet laureate of the United States.
Allen Tate: Involved with the Fugitive poets; held professorships at various universities.
William Empson: Known for his work "Seven Types of Ambiguity," which emphasized close reading and textual analysis.

How does the structure of the work contribute to its meaning and themes?
How does the language of the work create meaning and themes?
How do the images and symbols in the work contribute to its overall meaning?
How does the author use irony or paradox to create meaning and themes?
How does the work create a sense of unity or coherence?
How does the work use ambiguity to create meaning and themes?
How does the work challenge readers' assumptions or expectations?
How do the characters in the work contribute to its meaning and themes?
How does the work reflect the cultural or historical context in which it was produced?

Formalist Approach: Criticized for focusing narrowly on formal aspects of literature while ignoring historical and social contexts, which some argue limits understanding.
Textual Autonomy: The insistence on viewing works as self-contained disregards reader interpretation and authorial intent in meaning-making.
Limited Diversity: Critics point to a narrow canonical focus that excludes diverse voices and perspectives, reinforcing a limited literary view.
Anti-Historical Bias: Accused of neglecting the importance of historical and cultural contexts that shape literature, which critics view as crucial for analysis.
Elitism: Some view New Criticism as promoting "high art" while dismissing popular and non-Western literature, contributing to a biased literary canon.

Although New Criticism has made significant contributions to literary studies by emphasizing close reading and formal analysis, its limitations highlight the need for a more inclusive approach that considers a broader range of perspectives and contexts in literary analysis.