The New Criticism and Other Western Formalisms - Lecture 6

Explore the development of Anglo-American formalism in this 50-minute lecture from Yale University's "Introduction to Theory of Literature" course. Delve into Wimsatt and Beardsley's theory of literary interpretation through an analysis of Yeats's "Lapis Lazuli." Trace the evolution of formalism from Modernist literature to academic circles in America and Britain. Compare and contrast the works of I. A. Richards and William Empson, and examine Cleanth Brooks's concept of unity. Gain insights into various aspects of formalism, including the New Criticism, close reading techniques, and the importance of unity in literary analysis.

Syllabus

- Chapter 1. Yeats' "Lapis Lazuli" and Tony the Tow Truck
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- Chapter 2. The New Criticism: Modernist and Academic Contexts
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- Chapter 3. Earlier Close Readers: I. A. Richards
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- Chapter 4. Earlier Close Readers: William Empson
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- Chapter 5. Brooks and the "Implications of "Unity"
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