Question

Explain the disadvantages of emphasizing background information, such as historical context when critiquing a poem.

Answer 1

Answer: Biographical criticism is often associated with historical-biographical criticism, a critical method that "sees a literary work chiefly, if not exclusively, as a reflection of its author's life and times".

New Criticism was a formalist movement in literary theory that dominated American literary criticism in the middle decades of the 20th century. It emphasized close reading, particularly of poetry, to discover how a work of literature functioned as a self-contained, self-referential aesthetic object.

Answer 2

Terms in this set (7)

Historical/Biographical Approach

Advantages: Works well for some which are obviously political or biographical in nature. Places allusions in their proper classical, political, or biblical background.

Disadvantages: "The intentional fallacy". Tends to reduce art to the level of biography and make it relative rather than universal.

Moral/Philosophical Approach

Advantages: Useful for works that present an obvious moral philosophy. Useful when considering the themes. Doesn't view literature merely as "art" isolated from all moral implications. Recognizes that literature can affect readers and that the message is important.

Disadvantages: "Judgmental"

Formalism/New Criticism

Advantages: Can be performed without much research. Emphasizes the value instead of the context of literature. Virtually all critical approaches must begin here.

Disadvantages: Text is seen in isolation. Ignores the context. Cannot account for allusions.