1. New Criticism Also known as “Liberal Humanism,” and “Practical Criticism,” A text without a context is a literary artifact

2. 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.

3. T. S. Eliot (1888-1965) “The central figure of twentieth century literary criticism”

4. Main Ideas: 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.

5. Quotes: “ In a successful work, form and content cannot be separated…form is meaning ” (Brooks, Cleanth. “The Formalist Critics” 1366). Literature assumes the “ autonomy of the artist ” (Ransom, John Crowe. “Criticism, Inc.” 1115). “ The goal of literary criticism is that of attaining pure, disinterested knowledge ” (Barry 26).

6. Main Question: What is the one meaning of the poem, (expressed through form and technique)?

7. How to “do” a New Critical Reading: 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.

8. 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

9. [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

10. [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

18. Sources Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. 2 nd edition. NY: Manchester UP, 2002. Bressler, Charles E. Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice. 4 th 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. 4 th edition. Boston, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000. Leitch, Vincent B., gen. ed. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. NY: Norton, 2001.