American literary critics

American literary critics have played a significant role in shaping the country's literary landscape, with influential figures such as Edgar Allan Poe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau contributing to the development of American literature. The works of these critics have been widely studied and admired, with Poe's essays on literary theory and Emerson's Nature being particularly notable. Thoreau's Walden has also had a profound impact on American thought, influencing writers such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rachel Carson. The Harvard University-based New England Renaissance movement, which included writers like Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville, was also shaped by the critiques of Emerson and Thoreau.

Introduction to American Literary Critics

American literary critics have been instrumental in promoting and analyzing the works of American writers, from the early 19th century to the present day. Critics like Van Wyck Brooks and Malcolm Cowley have written extensively on the American novel, while others, such as Lionel Trilling and Irving Howe, have focused on the American essay. The Partisan Review, a literary magazine founded by Philip Rahv and William Phillips, has been a significant platform for American literary critics, featuring the work of writers like Mary McCarthy and Delmore Schwartz. The New York Intellectuals, a group of critics and writers that included Alfred Kazin and Dwight Macdonald, have also played a crucial role in shaping American literary criticism.

Notable American Literary Critics

Notable American literary critics include T.S. Eliot, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but later became a British citizen; John Crowe Ransom, a leading figure in the New Criticism movement; and Allen Tate, a Southern poet and critic. Other influential critics include Cleanth Brooks, Robert Penn Warren, and Yvor Winters, who were all associated with the New Criticism movement. The Black Arts Movement, which emerged in the 1960s, was characterized by the work of critics like Amiri Baraka and Larry Neal, who sought to promote African-American literature and challenge the dominant white American literary establishment. Critics like Susan Sontag and Harold Bloom have also made significant contributions to American literary criticism, with Bloom's work on the Western canon being particularly influential.

Historical Context of American Literary Criticism

The historical context of American literary criticism is closely tied to the development of American literature itself. The American Renaissance, which took place in the mid-19th century, saw the emergence of writers like Hawthorne, Melville, and Walt Whitman, who were influenced by the critiques of Emerson and Thoreau. The Modernist movement in America, which included writers like Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, and Gertrude Stein, was also shaped by the critiques of Pound and Eliot. The Cold War era saw the rise of the New Criticism movement, which emphasized the importance of close reading and textual analysis. Critics like Trilling and Howe were influential in this period, as were writers like Saul Bellow and Ralph Ellison, who were associated with the New York Intellectuals.

Major Literary Movements and American Critics

Major literary movements in America, such as Romanticism, Realism, and Modernism, have been shaped by the critiques of American literary critics. The Romantic movement in America, which included writers like Poe and Emerson, was characterized by an emphasis on nature and the individual. The Realist movement, which emerged in the late 19th century, was influenced by the critiques of writers like Mark Twain and William Dean Howells. The Modernist movement in America, which included writers like Pound and Eliot, was shaped by the critiques of Pound and Eliot, as well as the work of critics like Brooks and Tate. The Postmodern movement, which emerged in the 1960s, was characterized by the work of writers like Thomas Pynchon and Don DeLillo, who were influenced by the critiques of Sontag and Bloom.

Influence of American Literary Critics on Literature

The influence of American literary critics on literature has been profound, with many critics playing a significant role in shaping the literary canon. Critics like Brooks and Tate have been instrumental in promoting the work of Southern writers, such as William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor. The New Criticism movement, which emphasized the importance of close reading and textual analysis, has had a lasting impact on the way literature is taught and studied in America. Critics like Trilling and Howe have also played a significant role in shaping the literary landscape, with their critiques of American culture and politics influencing writers like Bellow and Ellison. The feminist movement in America, which emerged in the 1960s, was characterized by the work of critics like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem, who sought to promote women's literature and challenge the dominant patriarchal literary establishment.

Contemporary American Literary Criticism

Contemporary American literary criticism is characterized by a diverse range of perspectives and approaches, from the postcolonial critiques of Edward Said to the feminist critiques of Judith Butler. Critics like Fredric Jameson and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak have been influential in shaping the field of postcolonial studies, while critics like Butler and Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick have been instrumental in promoting the study of queer theory. The digital humanities movement, which has emerged in recent years, has also had a significant impact on American literary criticism, with critics like Katherine Hayles and Matthew Kirschenbaum exploring the intersection of literature and technology. The University of California, Berkeley-based Townsend Center for the Humanities and the New York University-based Center for the Humanities are two institutions that have been at the forefront of contemporary American literary criticism, hosting conferences and workshops on topics like critical theory and cultural studies. Category:American literature