Plurality of Meaning in Western Criticism
Journal Title: Notions A Journal of English Literature - Year 2017, Vol 0, Issue 3
Abstract
In his seminal book The Principals of Literary criticism I.A. Richards laid emphasis on twin functions of language i.e. emotive language and scientific language which is popularly known as dichotomy of meaning. He had to face stiff resistance from many detractors particularly the neo- Aristotelians who do not approve of a water tight compartment like emotive and scientific meaning and have reposed faith in continuity of meaning. His ardent disciple Empson took the problem of plurality of meaning of its semantic possibilities. But before Empson came with the theory of ambiguity, E.M.W Tillyard had already given a hint of ambiguity in poetry. Though he used the word obliquity instead of the word ambiguity. In Tillyad’s view it is the obliquity in poetry which makes it worth reading. The American critics, J.C. Ransom, Allen Tate, Cleanth Brooks, R.P. Blackmurr and Robert Penn Warren took the plurality of meaning to a surprising extent. They were called fugitives because they refused to move on beaten track. They had a liking for ambiguity and novelty.
Authors and Affiliations
Dr. Vishnulok Bihari Srivastava
Keywords
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