Meaning of New Criticism

1. New Criticism emerged as a literary theory in the early 20th century, focusing on close reading and analysis of a text.
2. Many scholars argue that New Criticism ignores historical and biographical context in favor of examining a text on its own merits.
3. New Criticism emphasizes the importance of formal elements in a text, such as structure, imagery, and symbolism.
4. Some critics believe that New Criticism's focus on the text itself can limit a reader's understanding of a work's broader cultural and social implications.
5. New Criticism encourages readers to pay close attention to language and style in a text, rather than relying on external sources for interpretation.
6. The principles of New Criticism have had a lasting impact on literary studies, influencing how texts are analyzed and interpreted.
7. New Criticism is often associated with the work of scholars like Cleanth Brooks, Robert Penn Warren, and John Crowe Ransom.
8. Critics of New Criticism argue that its narrow focus on the text can lead to a limited understanding of the complexities of a work.
9. New Criticism has been both praised for its rigorous attention to form and structure and criticized for its disregard of historical and cultural context.
10. Despite its limitations, New Criticism remains a valuable approach to literary analysis for those interested in the formal elements of a text.