Essay Database

In Response to John Crowe Ransom's Theory After reading Wimsatt & Beardsley's articles, I found that I agree with many of their ideas concerning New Criticism. I see nothing wrong with focusing on the work objectively by paying attention to dramatic form and theme and I admire how the theory is audience-centered. It claims that it's important to separate the writing process from the reading process. And along the same line, lies Ransom's argument. His premise …

…found that fascinating because of how dissimilarly people view the two. Yet, it is a valid point if you consider New Criticism's stance. "In every new experience, even in science, there is a feeling. [And] no discourse can sustain itself without interest, which is a feeling"(454). That makes sense. I really enjoyed Ransom's ideas. I agree with them, or at least aspects of them and liked how they clearly displayed the beliefs of New Criticism.