Study Notes on Literary Criticism: New Criticism

Discussion of Literary Criticism

  • The focus of today's discussion is on new criticism and the locus of meaning in a text.

The Nature of Meaning in a Text

  • There are different perspectives on where meaning in a text resides:

    • Authorial Intent: Meaning might be derived from what the author thinks or intends at the time of writing.

    • Textual Evidence: Alternatively, meaning can be found in the work itself, independent of the author’s intent.

    • Reader Interpretation: Lastly, meaning may lie in the interpretation made by the reader.

  • Different criticism theories have varying opinions on this matter.

Defining New Criticism

  • New Criticism represents a shift away from older criticism styles which centered on the author and the historical context of the work.

  • The core belief of new criticism is:

    • Textual Autonomy: The text should stand alone; the new critics prioritize what the text communicates rather than what the author intended or how the reader interprets it.

    • Irrelevance of Author and Reader: According to new critics, the author’s intent is often difficult to ascertain, therefore, it should not dictate the meaning. Not all authors provide insights on their work, and commentaries can themselves be subject to interpretation.

Key Method: Close Reading

  • The foundational practice in new criticism is close reading.

    • Significance of Close Reading: To uncover the meaning inherent within a text, it is essential to read it carefully. Without thorough reading, the true meaning may be overlooked.

    • Methods of Reading:

    • Superficial Reading: Capturing only the gist of the text without deeper insights.

    • Detailed Reading: Reading carefully but not exhaustively.

    • Painstaking Reading: The hallmark of new critics, where every single word and its nuances are scrutinized, recognizing how they influence the text as a whole.

    • Web Analogy: Critics describe the text as a web, with every element interconnected, where the integration of all parts creates the overall meaning.

Reference to Cleanth Brooks

  • Cleanth Brooks wrote an influential essay titled "The Heresy of Paraphrase.” It emphasizes that:

    • Loss in Paraphrasing: Attempting to paraphrase a text leads to a loss of meaning. Meaning cannot be reduced to just content or form; it is enriched by the interaction between both.

Challenges of Close Reading

  • Close reading poses challenges when analyzing full-length works such as "Les Misérables" due to their complexity and length.

    • Strategy for Analysis: Instead of analyzing the entire novel, one can focus on:

    • Specific chapters or scenes for detailed analysis.

    • Recurring themes or aspects throughout the work.

    • Advantages of Close Analysis: This method can unearth subtle meaning and deepen understanding of the text.

Value Judgement in New Criticism

  • In addition to close reading, new critics make value judgments based on:

    • Depth: A work is considered to have depth if it exhibits complexity and tension while also maintaining a unified cohesive whole.

    • Identification of Tensions: Critics explore apparent paradoxes and oppositional meanings within the text to assess its complexity.

Example of New Criticism

  • An example discussed is the movie "Frozen”:

    • Character Contrast: The characters Elsa and Anna are portrayed as seemingly opposite:

    • Elsa is associated with winter, coldness, and being closed off.

    • Anna represents spring, openness, and warmth.

    • Underlying Unity: Despite their contrasts, a mutual love unifies them, demonstrating the complexity and tension within their relationship.

Conclusions on New Criticism

  • After identifying tensions in a text, it is essential to explore how these tensions are resolved and what unifies the work as a whole:

    • A work lacking tension is viewed as flat and uninteresting.

    • A work without unity fails to feel like a complete entity.

  • A successful new critical analysis involves:

    • Close examination of a work, identification of tension, and discovering how the text achieves wholeness.

  • When a text showcases both complexity and cohesion, it is deemed high-quality literature capable of evoking emotional responses, such as crying.

Closing Remarks

  • The discussion on new criticism highlights its focus on textual analysis over authorial intent or reader opinion.

  • Viewers are encouraged to explore additional resources on literary criticism for deeper understanding.