New Criticism was a dominant mode of literary theory and criticism in the early to mid-20th century, particularly in the United States. It emphasized close reading and the detailed analysis of the text itself, without considering the author's intention, historical context, or reader response.
The leading figures of New Criticism included:
John Crowe Ransom
Allen Tate
Cleanth Brooks
I.A. Richards, while an influential literary critic and theorist, is generally associated with a different critical approach. He was one of the founders of modern literary criticism and played a key role in developing the concept of "practical criticism" and in exploring the psychology of literary response. Richards' work laid some of the groundwork for New Criticism, but he himself is not typically considered a leading figure within the New Criticism movement.
Year-wise PYQs
