The correct answer, "1: A, B, and C only," is supported by principles associated with New Criticism. Here’s a breakdown of why each option applies or does not apply to New Criticism:
A. It draws considerably from the works of I. A. Richards and the critical essay of T. S. Eliot.
This is correct. New Criticism is heavily influenced by I. A. Richards, particularly his focus on close reading and textual analysis. T. S. Eliot's ideas on objective correlative and "impersonality" in poetry also shaped New Criticism.
B. Some of its concepts are pre-empted by F. R. Leavis.
This is also correct. Although F. R. Leavis was not strictly a New Critic, his emphasis on rigorous textual analysis aligns with New Criticism’s focus on close reading and intrinsic textual features.
C. It distinguishes between literary and scientific usage of language.
This is correct as well. New Critics like I. A. Richards made distinctions between the language of literature and the more empirical, denotative language of science. New Criticism focuses on the specific qualities of literary language and how it achieves meaning within the text.
D. It encourages an extensive exploration of the contextual and autobiographical background of a literary production.
This is incorrect. New Criticism is known for disregarding the author’s biography and historical context, emphasizing the text itself as an autonomous entity. It opposes approaches that rely on the author's life or historical background to interpret the text.
E. It vouches for a historical analysis of a text.
This is also incorrect. New Criticism rejects historical and social context, focusing strictly on the text itself and its formal elements without reference to external context.
Therefore, only A, B, and C apply to New Criticism, making answer 1 the correct choice.
Year-wise PYQs
