New Criticism Theory| Difference Between New Criticism & Russian Formalism| History of New Criticism

Summary

In this video, the concept of New Criticism, a literary theory that emerged in the mid-20th century, is explored. It emphasizes close reading, focusing on the text's language, structure, and symbolism, while disregarding historical or biographical context. The video also compares New Criticism to Russian Formalism, highlighting their similarities and differences. Key figures in the development of New Criticism, such as I.A. Richards and T.S. Eliot, are mentioned, along with its rise in academia. The theory’s decline in the 1960s is attributed to critiques for ignoring cultural context and the emergence of other literary theories. The video concludes with examples of applying both New Criticism and Russian Formalism to literary works.

Takeaways

• 😀 New Criticism is a literary theory that emphasizes close reading and analysis of a text, focusing on its intrinsic elements like structure, language, and symbolism.
• 😀 The theory emerged in the early to mid-20th century and was primarily developed in the United States, contrasting with Russian Formalism which originated in Russia.
• 😀 New Criticism disregards the author's intent, biography, and historical context, focusing solely on what is present within the text itself.
• 😀 Key figures in the development of New Criticism include I.A. Richards, T.S. Eliot, and John Crowe Ransom, who popularized the movement in the 1930s and 1940s.
• 😀 Influential works that contributed to the New Criticism movement include *The Well-Wrought Urn* (1947) by Cleanth Brooks and *The Verbal Icon* (1954) by W.K. Wimsatt.
• 😀 The 1950s and 1960s saw New Criticism become dominant in U.S. academia, especially in literature departments, shaping how literary analysis was taught and studied.
• 😀 Despite its influence, New Criticism faced criticism in the 1960s and 1970s for neglecting historical, social, and cultural contexts in literary analysis.
• 😀 New Criticism encourages close reading of a text, such as examining its structure, language, and symbolism, without considering external contexts like the author’s life or historical period.
• 😀 In contrast to New Criticism, Russian Formalism rejects any biographical or historical context, focusing exclusively on the text's formal elements.
• 😀 Examples of New Criticism include analyzing a poem’s use of imagery and metaphor, while Russian Formalism would focus purely on the internal structure of a text, disregarding external factors.

Q & A

What is the main focus of New Criticism?

New Criticism primarily focuses on a close reading of the text itself, analyzing its structure, language, and symbolism, without considering the author's intent or external context such as history or biography.

How is New Criticism related to Russian Formalism?

New Criticism shares similarities with Russian Formalism, as both focus on the internal structure of a literary work. However, New Criticism allows for some consideration of context if it enhances understanding, while Russian Formalism strictly disregards external factors like historical and biographical context.

What key elements should be analyzed in a text using New Criticism?

When applying New Criticism, the primary focus should be on analyzing the text’s structure, language, imagery, metaphor, and symbolism. The analysis is done without considering the historical or biographical context of the author.

What historical period did New Criticism emerge in?

New Criticism emerged in the early to mid-20th century, particularly in the United States, gaining prominence from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Who were some of the key figures in the development of New Criticism?

Key figures in the development of New Criticism included I.A. Richards, T.S. Eliot, John Crowe Ransom, Cleanth Brooks, Allen Tate, and Robert Penn Warren.

What are some seminal texts in New Criticism?

Some seminal texts in New Criticism include Cleanth Brooks' 'The Well-Wrought Urn' (1947) and W.K. Wimsatt's 'The Verbal Icon' (1954), which further articulated the principles of the movement.

How did New Criticism influence academia?

New Criticism gained significant influence in academic circles, especially in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. Its emphasis on close reading became a dominant approach in literature departments, shaping how literature was taught and analyzed.

What were some critiques of New Criticism in the 1960s and 1970s?

In the 1960s and 1970s, New Criticism faced critiques for neglecting historical and cultural contexts, which led to its decline in favor of other theories like structuralism and post-structuralism.

What is the key difference between Russian Formalism and New Criticism regarding context?

Russian Formalism strictly disregards historical and biographical context, focusing only on the text’s internal structure. In contrast, New Criticism allows for some consideration of context if it enhances understanding of the work.

How would you analyze a short story using Russian Formalism?

When applying Russian Formalism to a short story, you would analyze the internal structure, such as the narrative techniques and language used, without considering the author's biography or the historical context of the story.