Modernist Literary Criticism And Early Modern Texts

Modernist literary criticism is a field that examines literature written during the early modern period. This era, spanning from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, witnessed groundbreaking shifts in literature and the arts. Modernist writers challenged traditional forms and experimented with new literary techniques, often exploring complex themes and the human condition. In this article, we delve into the relevance of modernist literary criticism within the context of early modern texts.

Early modern texts refer to literary works that were produced before and during the modernist movement. These texts provide a valuable insight into the development of modernist literature and the cultural context in which it emerged. By examining early modern texts through a modernist lens, literary critics gain a deeper understanding of the influences and motivations behind the works.

Understanding Modernist Literary Criticism

Modernist literary criticism seeks to analyze and interpret the distinct features of literature during the modernist period. It explores the formal innovations, thematic complexities, and socio-political implications present in these texts. Modernist critics often focus on the fragmentation of narrative, stream-of-consciousness writing, and the exploration of inner consciousness and subjectivity.

Being of Two Minds: Modernist Literary Criticism and Early Modern Texts

by Jonathan Goldberg(Kindle Edition)

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Language	:	English
File size	:	819 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	184 pages

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One of the key figures in modernist literary criticism is T.S. Eliot. His groundbreaking essay, "Tradition and the Individual Talent," published in 1919, established the principles of modernist criticism. Eliot argued that a writer's work should be evaluated in the context of the entire literary tradition, emphasizing the significance of intertextuality and the continuous dialogue between past and present.

Another influential modernist critic is Virginia Woolf. Her essays, such as "Modern Fiction," challenged the conventional notions of plot, character, and structure. Woolf believed that literature should reflect the complexity and fluidity of human consciousness, resulting in her exploration of stream-of-consciousness narration in works like "Mrs. Dalloway" and "To the Lighthouse."

Exploring Early Modern Texts

The early modern period was characterized by rapid societal changes, industrialization, and the aftermath of significant historical events such as World War I. This tumultuous backdrop greatly influenced the literary works of the time. By examining early modern texts, modernist critics trace the development of literature within this dynamic context.

One such influential work is James Joyce's "Ulysses." Published in 1922, "Ulysses" is a modernist masterpiece that experiments with language, narrative structure, and the representation of ordinary life. Joyce's stream-of-consciousness technique and intricate wordplay challenged traditional literary forms, inspiring a new generation of writers.

The poetry of T.S. Eliot, particularly "The Waste Land," is another significant early modern text. "The Waste Land" reflects the fragmentation and disillusionment of post-World War I society, presenting a disjointed narrative that captures the anxieties and sense of loss prevalent at the time. Eliot's poem remains a cornerstone of modernist literature.

The Relevance of Modernist Literary Criticism Today

Modernist literary criticism continues to shape our understanding and appreciation of literature today. Its exploration of formal and thematic innovations has opened avenues for contemporary writers to experiment with styles and push the boundaries of traditional storytelling.

Moreover, the study of modernist literature and criticism helps us contextualize the works of contemporary authors. By understanding the historical, social, and artistic influences of the early modern period, we can better grasp the evolution of literature and its ongoing resonance in our present world.

The intersection of modernist literary criticism and early modern texts provides a fascinating exploration of the artistic and intellectual landscape of the early 20th century. This period marked a significant departure from the literary traditions of the past and paved the way for future innovations. By delving into modernist literature, we gain valuable insights into the human experience and the various facets of expression.

, modernist literary criticism offers a deeper understanding of early modern texts and their cultural significance. By examining the formal, thematic, and socio-political aspects of these works, we unlock the richness and complexity of modernist literature. Its ideas and techniques have not only shaped the literature of its time but have also left a lasting impact on subsequent generations of writers and literary critics. Exploring modernist literary criticism within the context of early modern texts broadens our perspective on literature and allows us to appreciate the ongoing relevance and influence of these works.

Being of Two Minds: Modernist Literary Criticism and Early Modern Texts

by Jonathan Goldberg(Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	819 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	184 pages

FREE

Being of Two Minds examines the place that early modern literature held in Modernist literary criticism. For T. S. Eliot, Virginia Woolf, and William Empson, the early modern period helps model a literary future. At stake in their engagements across time were ontological questions about literature and its ability to mediate between the one and the many, the particular and the general, life and death, the past and the present. If reading and writing literature enables the mind to be in two places at once, creative experience serves as a way to participate in an expanded field of consciousness alongside mortality.

Goldberg reads the readings that these modernists performed on texts that Eliot claimed for the canon like the metaphysical poets and Jacobean dramatists, but also Shakespeare, Milton, Montaigne, and Margaret Cavendish. Ontological concerns are reflected in Eliot’s engagement with Aristotle’s theory of the soul and Empson’s Buddhism. These arguments about being affect minds and bodies and call into question sexual normativity: Eliot glances at a sodomitical male-male mode of literary transmission; Woolf produces a Judith Shakespeare to model androgynous being; Empson refuses to distinguish activity from passivity to rewrite gender difference.

The work of one of our leading literary and cultural critics, Being of Two Minds spans centuries to show how the most compelling and surprising ideas about mind, experience, and existence not only move between early modernity, high modernism, and our own moment, but are also constituted through that very movement between times and minds.