ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -New Critics refer to the historical / biographical critic’s belief that the meaning or value of a work may be determined by the author’s intention as “the intentional fallacy.” They believe that this approach tends to reduce art to the level of biography and make it relative (to the times) rather than universal.

Detailed explanation-2: -One of the major drawbacks of the biographical approach is that it tends to glorify the “genius” of the author in ways with which many modern critics do not feel quite comfortable. The approach also tends to disregard the meanings that some popular readings assign to the text.

Detailed explanation-3: -Advantages: Can be useful for understanding works in which characters obviously have psychological issues. Knowing something about a writer’s psychological make-up can give us insight into his work. Disadvantages: Can turn it into a psychological case study. Sometimes attempts to diagnose long dead authors.

Detailed explanation-4: -Historical-Biographical approach establishes a bridge between the reader and the world’s of the author. The life of the author, the historical events and the values of his age help us understand the work, and in a similar way the literary work gives information of the author and his own period.

Detailed explanation-5: -Historical / Biographical critics see works as the reflection of an author’s life and times (or of the characters’ life and times). H/B approach deems it necessary to know about the author and the political, economical, and sociological context of his times in order to truly understand the work(s).