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New Criticism for Dummies

noun


What does New Criticism really mean?

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Hey there, buddy! Today we're going to talk about a super interesting word called "New Criticism". Don't worry, I'm here to explain it to you in the simplest way possible, so let's dive right in!

"New Criticism" is a term used to describe a way of studying literature. Imagine you have a magical magnifying glass, just like the ones detectives use in their investigations. Well, New Criticism is like using that magnifying glass to closely examine a piece of writing, like a novel, a poem, or even a short story.

Instead of looking at the history or the author's life, New Criticism wants us to focus only on the text itself. It's like taking the words on the page and putting them under a microscope. By doing this, we can pay attention to things like the language, the structure, the literary devices (like metaphors and similes), and even the meaning hidden between the lines.

Now, you might be wondering: "Why would we only look at the text and not the author's life or the history around it?" That's a great question! You see, New Criticism believes that the text should stand alone, kind of like a painting hanging on a museum wall. It wants us to find all the beauty and meaning within the words themselves, without being influenced by anything else.

But wait, there's more to it! "New Criticism" can also mean something else, like a style of writing poetry. In this sense, it refers to poems that are very focused on language and how it creates an emotional impact. So, poets who use New Criticism might play with words, sounds, and rhythms, all to make us feel the power of their words deep in our hearts.

In a nutshell, "New Criticism" is a way of looking at literature by closely examining the text itself, without considering the author's life or the historical context. It's like using a magnifying glass to explore all the beauty and meaning hidden within the words. And it can also refer to a style of poetry that focuses on language and emotion.

So, my friend, now you know what "New Criticism" means! Isn't it fascinating how one little word can hold so much meaning? Keep asking those awesome questions and never stop exploring the wonderful world of words!

Revised and Fact checked by Mike Johnson on 2023-10-29 11:30:57

New Criticism In a sentece

Learn how to use New Criticism inside a sentece

  • New Criticism focuses on closely analyzing the text itself and paying attention to its structure, language, and themes rather than considering the author's intent or historical context. For example, if we were studying a poem, we might examine the rhyme scheme, the use of metaphors, and how the words create different meanings.
  • In a New Criticism approach, when analyzing a novel, we would closely examine how the characters are developed, the symbolism used throughout the story, and the overall message conveyed by the writer, disregarding the writer's personal life or the time period the novel was written in.
  • Let's say we are applying New Criticism to a play. We would focus on analyzing the dialogues, the stage directions, and the interactions between the characters to understand the deeper meanings and conflicts portrayed in the play, rather than considering the playwright's intentions or historical events during that time.
  • If we were using New Criticism to study a short story, we would pay close attention to the narrative structure, the use of imagery and symbols, and how the plot unfolds to understand the story's themes and messages, without considering the author's background or the cultural context.
  • New Criticism can also be applied to analyze a film. Instead of being concerned with the director's intentions or the historical background, we would closely examine the cinematography, the mise-en-scène, and the dialogue to interpret the deeper meanings, emotions, and ideological messages conveyed through the film.

New Criticism Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.