Review:
Literary Theory: New Criticism
overall review score: 4.5
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score is between 0 and 5
New Criticism is a literary theory that focuses on analyzing and interpreting texts based solely on the text itself, without considering historical or biographical contexts.
Key Features
- Close reading of the text
- Emphasis on ambiguity and paradox
- Avoidance of authorial intent
- Focus on form, structure, and language
- Ignoring extrinsic factors like historical context
Pros
- Encourages close analysis of literary texts
- Highlights the importance of textual elements like structure and language
- Provides a methodical approach to literary criticism
Cons
- Ignores the socio-political implications of literature
- Criticized for being too focused on form over content