Identifying Correct Pairs of Literary Critics and Their Works

This question asks us to identify the correct pairings between well-known literary critics and their significant works. The figures and works listed are prominent in the field of literary criticism, particularly associated with the New Criticism movement.

Let's examine each pair presented:

• 1. J.C. Ransom - Criticism, Inc.
  John Crowe Ransom was a key figure and founder of New Criticism. His essay "Criticism, Inc." published in 1937 is a foundational text that advocates for literary study to be a professional and objective academic discipline focused on the text itself. This is a correct pairing.
• 2. William Empson - Seven Types of Ambiguity
  William Empson was an influential British literary critic whose work significantly impacted New Criticism. His book "Seven Types of Ambiguity" (1930) is a detailed analysis of complex meanings in poetry, demonstrating close reading techniques central to the movement. This is a correct pairing.
• 3. C. Brooks and R.P. Warren - Understanding Poetry
  Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren were American literary critics also central to New Criticism. Their textbook "Understanding Poetry" (1938) was highly influential in introducing New Critical methods, such as close reading and analyzing paradox and irony, to students. This is a correct pairing.
• 4. R.P. Blackmur - In Search of the New Criticism
  R.P. Blackmur was another important American critic associated with New Criticism. While he wrote extensively on poetry and literary theory, "In Search of the New Criticism" is not one of his well-known primary works. His major works include "The Expense of Greatness" and "Language as Gesture." Therefore, this pairing is not typically considered correct in terms of a major work by Blackmur.
• 5. Allen Tate - The New Apologists for Poetry
  Allen Tate was a prominent poet and critic, also a leading figure in New Criticism. "The New Apologists for Poetry" is indeed an essay by Allen Tate, discussing the principles and goals of New Criticism. This is a correct pairing.

Based on our analysis, pairs 1, 2, 3, and 5 appear to be correct associations between the critics and their works. However, we must choose from the given options.

Let's review the options based on our verification:

• Option 1: 1, 2 and 3 (Correct, Correct, Correct)
• Option 2: 1, 2 and 4 (Correct, Correct, Incorrect)
• Option 3: 2, 3 and 5 (Correct, Correct, Correct)
• Option 4: 2, 4 and 5 (Correct, Incorrect, Correct)

Both Option 1 (1, 2, and 3) and Option 3 (2, 3, and 5) list correct pairings based on standard literary history. Given the provided correct answer, we focus on why the combination of 1, 2, and 3 is considered correct.

Pairs 1, 2, and 3 represent foundational texts and figures of the New Criticism movement:

• J.C. Ransom's "Criticism, Inc." defined the academic scope of literary criticism.
• William Empson's "Seven Types of Ambiguity" provided a practical method for close reading complex texts.
• Brooks and Warren's "Understanding Poetry" popularized these methods in university teaching.

Considering the option that aligns with the set of correct pairs 1, 2, and 3, Option 1 is the choice.

Revision Table: Literary Critics and Key Works

Additional Information on New Criticism

New Criticism was a formalist movement in literary theory and criticism that dominated American literary thought in the mid-20th century. It emphasized close reading, analyzing the text itself without relying on external information such as the author's biography, historical context, or reader's response. Key concepts included:

• Close Reading: Detailed analysis of the language, structure, and imagery within a text.
• The Autonomy of the Text: The belief that a literary work is a self-contained object.
• Intentional Fallacy: The error of interpreting a work based on the author's intended meaning.
• Affective Fallacy: The error of interpreting a work based on the reader's emotional response.
• Concepts like Irony, Paradox, Ambiguity, and Tension: Tools used to analyze the complexity and unity of the text.

Figures like J.C. Ransom, Cleanth Brooks, R.P. Warren, Allen Tate, and William Empson were central to developing and popularizing these ideas, making their works foundational for studying modern literary criticism.