Cleanth Brooks

Definition

Cleanth Brooks was an influential American literary critic and a key figure in the development of New Criticism, which emphasizes close reading of texts and the analysis of their formal elements. His work shifted the focus away from authorial intent and historical context, advocating for the text itself as the primary source of meaning. This approach profoundly impacted literary analysis and the way poetry, in particular, was understood during the mid-20th century.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cleanth Brooks is best known for his book 'The Well Wrought Urn', published in 1947, where he articulated many principles of New Criticism.
2. He believed that a poem should be viewed as a self-contained entity, where all elements work together to create meaning, rather than relying on external explanations.
3. Brooks emphasized the significance of paradox in poetry, arguing that it is through contradictions that deeper meanings emerge.
4. He played a major role in establishing literary studies as an academic discipline in American universities during the mid-20th century.
5. Cleanth Brooks also contributed to the Southern literary tradition and was associated with other prominent critics like Robert Penn Warren and Allen Tate.

Review Questions

• How did Cleanth Brooks' approach to literary criticism challenge previous methods of interpreting texts?
  • Cleanth Brooks' approach significantly shifted the focus from considering an author's intentions or historical background to analyzing the text itself as an independent work of art. This change encouraged readers to engage more deeply with the language, structure, and formal elements within the text. By emphasizing close reading and formal analysis, Brooks argued that meaning arises from the intricacies within the poem rather than from external factors, revolutionizing literary interpretation.
• Discuss the key ideas presented by Cleanth Brooks in 'The Well Wrought Urn' and their implications for New Criticism.
  • 'The Well Wrought Urn' presents key ideas such as the importance of unity and coherence within poetry, where each part contributes to the whole. Brooks highlights how paradoxes and tensions within a poem create its meaning, challenging readers to look beyond surface interpretations. These concepts had significant implications for New Criticism, as they shaped a method that prioritized intrinsic analysis over contextual readings, ultimately influencing how literature was studied in academic settings.
• Evaluate Cleanth Brooks' impact on the field of literary studies and how his principles continue to resonate in contemporary criticism.
  • Cleanth Brooks' impact on literary studies is profound, as he helped establish a framework for New Criticism that remains influential today. His emphasis on close reading has encouraged subsequent generations of critics to prioritize textual analysis while also prompting debates about authorial intent and reader interpretation. Contemporary criticism still grapples with Brooks' principles; many scholars recognize their foundational role while also integrating other approaches that consider cultural context or reader response, demonstrating his lasting legacy in literature.

Related terms

New Criticism: A movement in literary criticism that emerged in the early 20th century, focusing on the close reading of texts and analyzing their formal properties, rather than considering external factors like author biography or historical context.

Close Reading: A careful and detailed interpretation of a text that emphasizes its language, structure, and meaning, often used in New Criticism to reveal the complexity of literary works.

The Well Wrought Urn: A collection of essays by Cleanth Brooks that outlines his critical ideas and practices, highlighting the importance of form in poetry and advocating for an intrinsic analysis of literary works.