Understanding the Founding of Scrutiny Journal

The question asks about the founder of the literary journal known as Scrutiny, which was established in 1932.

Scrutiny was a highly influential journal of literary criticism published in the United Kingdom from 1932 to 1953. It played a significant role in shaping the study of English literature, particularly within academic institutions.

Identifying the Founder of Scrutiny

Let's examine the options provided:

• I.A. Richards
• F.R. Leavis
• Cleanth Brooks
• John Crowe Ransom

Based on historical records of literary history and criticism, the journal Scrutiny was founded by F.R. Leavis in 1932 at Downing College, Cambridge. Leavis was also the primary editor throughout its run.

Analysis of Options

Let's consider why the other options are not the correct founders of Scrutiny:

• I.A. Richards: While a hugely important figure in literary criticism, particularly associated with New Criticism and the practical criticism approach, I.A. Richards was not the founder of Scrutiny. He taught Leavis at Cambridge, and his work influenced Leavis, but he did not start this specific journal.
• Cleanth Brooks: Cleanth Brooks was a prominent American literary critic associated with the New Criticism movement. He co-founded and edited the journal The Southern Review, not Scrutiny. His work focused heavily on close reading of poetry, similar in some ways to Scrutiny's approach but distinct in origin and context.
• John Crowe Ransom: John Crowe Ransom was another key figure in American New Criticism. He founded and edited The Kenyon Review, another significant journal of literary criticism, but not Scrutiny.
• F.R. Leavis: F.R. Leavis was the driving force behind Scrutiny. He established the journal to promote a rigorous, morally engaged form of literary criticism that he believed was lacking elsewhere. The journal became synonymous with the critical perspectives developed by Leavis and his circle, often referred to as the "Scrutiny school" or "Cambridge criticism."

Conclusion

The founder of the journal Scrutiny in 1932 was definitively F.R. Leavis.

Revision Table: Key Figures in Literary Journals

Reviewing the founders of significant literary journals helps distinguish between different critical schools and their publications.

• F.R. Leavis: Scrutiny (UK, 1932)
• Cleanth Brooks & Charles Warren: The Southern Review (USA, 1935)
• John Crowe Ransom: The Kenyon Review (USA, 1939)

Additional Information on Scrutiny and F.R. Leavis

Scrutiny became known for its demanding standards and its focus on the "great tradition" of English literature, emphasizing authors like Jane Austen, George Eliot, Henry James, Joseph Conrad, and D.H. Lawrence. The journal strongly influenced academic English studies for decades. F.R. Leavis advocated for literature's crucial role in maintaining cultural health and opposed what he saw as superficial or commercially driven criticism. The journal published essays by Leavis himself, his wife Q.D. Leavis, and other critics associated with him. Its closure in 1953 marked the end of a particular era in British literary criticism, though its impact continued to be felt.