Question

1. Ontological critic is a critic who

a. uses the assumptions of New Criticism and believes that text is a concrete entity- like a painting, vase, or a door luck- that can be analyzed to ascertain meaning.
b. uses various and even contradictory theories in critiquing a work of art.
c. believes that there is one and only one theory or set of principles a reader may use when interpreting a text.

Answer 1

The correct answer is a. uses the assumptions of New Criticism and believes that text is a concrete entity - like a painting, vase, or a doorknob - that can be analyzed to ascertain meaning.

An ontological critic, influenced by New Criticism, considers the text itself as an object with intrinsic meaning rather than relying on external factors such as authorial intent or historical context. They focus on close textual analysis, examining elements such as language, structure, and imagery to understand the work's meaning. This approach assumes that the text has a self-contained and independent existence, much like a physical object that can be studied and interpreted.