New Criticism focused on the poem as an autonomous object
Image: James Joyce, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
New Criticism
New Criticism focused on the poem as an autonomous object
Key figures in New Criticism, such as I. A. Richards, John Crowe Ransom, W. K. Wimsatt, and Monroe Beardsley, contributed to its methodology. Wimsatt and Beardsley introduced the concepts of intentional fallacy and affective fallacy, which argue against considering the author's intentions and emotions when interpreting a poem. These ideas reinforced the movement's focus on the text itself as the primary source of meaning.
Example
A New Critical analysis of Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" would focus solely on the poem's language, structure, and imagery, without considering Frost's personal experiences or intentions behind writing it.
Understanding New Criticism's emphasis on the poem as an autonomous object helps readers appreciate the depth and complexity of literary texts by focusing solely on their intrinsic elements.
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