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Five Critics Who Changed the Way We Read

Gerald Bell

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Published in Critical Revolutionaries: Five Critics Who Changed The Way We Read

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In the history of literature, there have been a handful of critics whose work has had a profound impact on the way we read and understand literature. These critics have challenged our assumptions about what literature is, how it should be interpreted, and what its value is. They have helped us to see literature in new ways, and have opened up new possibilities for interpretation.

Critical Revolutionaries: Five Critics Who Changed the Way We Read

by Terry Eagleton

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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In this book, we explore the work of five such critics: I.A. Richards, F.R. Leavis, Northrop Frye, Harold Bloom, and Stanley Fish. These critics represent a wide range of critical approaches, from the New Criticism of Richards and Leavis to the structuralism of Frye and the deconstruction of Fish. However, they all share a common goal: to help us to understand literature more deeply and to appreciate its value more fully.

I.A. Richards (1893-1979) was one of the founders of the New Criticism, a movement that dominated literary criticism in the mid-20th century. Richards argued that the meaning of a poem is not something that is fixed and unchanging, but rather something that is created by the reader in response to the text. He also developed a method of close reading that focused on the language and structure of a poem, rather than on its historical or biographical context.

F.R. Leavis (1895-1978) was another leading figure in the New Criticism. Leavis believed that literature was a moral force that could help us to live better lives. He argued that the best literature is that which is "serious" and "difficult," and that it is our duty to grapple with it and to learn from it. Leavis's work has been highly influential in shaping the way that literature is taught in schools and universities.

Northrop Frye (1912-1991) was a Canadian critic who developed a structuralist approach to literature. Frye argued that literature is a system of symbols that can be interpreted according to a set of rules. He also developed a theory of genres, arguing that all literature can be classified into a small number of basic types. Frye's work has been highly influential in the study of literature, and his insights have helped us to understand the underlying patterns and structures of literature.

Harold Bloom (1930-2019) was an American critic who developed a theory of influence. Bloom argued that every writer is influenced by the writers who came before them, and that the best writers are those who are able to creatively misread and revise their predecessors. Bloom's work has been highly influential in the study of literature, and his insights have helped us to understand the ways in which literature is constantly evolving and changing.

Stanley Fish (1938-) is an American critic who developed a theory of reader-response. Fish argued that the meaning of a text is not something that is fixed and unchanging, but rather something that is created by the reader in response to the text. He also argued that the reader's own experiences and beliefs shape their interpretation of a text. Fish's work has been highly influential in the study of literature, and his insights have helped us to understand the ways in which our own experiences and beliefs shape our understanding of literature.

These are just five of the many critics who have changed the way we read. Their work has helped us to understand literature more deeply, to appreciate its value more fully, and to see it in new ways. If you are interested in learning more about literature, then I encourage you to read the work of these critics. They will challenge your assumptions, open up new possibilities for interpretation, and help you to become a more informed and engaged reader.

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Critical Revolutionaries: Five Critics Who Changed the Way We Read

by Terry Eagleton

4 out of 5