New Criticism was a school of literary criticism that emerged in the mid-twentieth century. It rejected the traditional critical view that literature should be studied in the context of the author’s life, views, and purpose. Instead, New Critics such as John Crowe Ransom and William K. Wimsatt stated that a work of literature must be appreciated for its own sake, independent of its author’s life or purpose and the reader’s biases and emotional response.Ransom's publication of his book The New Criticism in 1941 marked the start of this literary school of thought.
In this task, you’ll analyze a poem using three different approaches: biographical, New Criticism, and emotional. Later, you will critique your own analysis.
You can use the following resources to complete this activity:
how Elizabeth Barrett Browning's life story influenced interpretations of Sonnets from the Portuguese for many years
a short biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning
You can refer to this analysis of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” as a sample to guide your response. The analysis demonstrates the kind of information you can include for each of the three analyses, although it applies to a very different kind of text than the Barret Browning poem you will analyze.
Part A
Read Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s famous Sonnet 43.
Sonnet 43
by Elizabeth Barret Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.