New Criticism

New Criticism emphasizes a close analysis of a literary text's formal qualities, treating it as a self-sufficient and autonomous entity. It sets aside authorial intention and historical context, focusing on the text's internal complexities and the reader's emotional response. 

New Critical approaches are great for what we do a lot of in a Language and Literature class: it is all about close analysis of texts' language, imagery, symbols, and other literary devices to uncover deeper meanings and complexities. This approach is great for Paper 1.

• To what extent can a text be argued to possess a singular and genuine meaning that can only be uncovered through close reading?

• Is it possible for various readers to construct and validate different interpretations of a text, even when relying solely on evidence found within the text itself?

• How significant is it to comprehend the life and beliefs of the author?