Which theory emphasizes the text itself and treats it largely independent of author, reader, and context?

Which theory emphasizes the text itself and treats it largely independent of author, reader, and context?

• A. Formalist
• B. Objective
• C. Expressive
• D. Historical

Answer: (B)

This question is about a text-centered approach to literary analysis. The key idea is to treat the work as an autonomous object whose meaning comes primarily from its own features—how it’s built, the artful arrangement of words, phrases, and patterns—rather than from what the author did, who reads it, or the historical moment in which it was produced. When you focus on the text itself, you look closely at form and technique: structure, diction, imagery, rhythm, symbolism, and how those elements interact to create meaning. The urge is to read the piece as a self-contained artifact, asking how its internal workings produce effects, develop themes, or create ambiguity and unity. This is the hallmark of Formalist criticism (often taught as close reading or New Criticism). So the idea described—emphasizing the text and treating it largely independent of author, reader, and context—best fits the formalist approach. It’s not about the author’s biography or the historical backdrop, but about what the text does within its own boundaries.

This question is about a text-centered approach to literary analysis. The key idea is to treat the work as an autonomous object whose meaning comes primarily from its own features—how it’s built, the artful arrangement of words, phrases, and patterns—rather than from what the author did, who reads it, or the historical moment in which it was produced.

When you focus on the text itself, you look closely at form and technique: structure, diction, imagery, rhythm, symbolism, and how those elements interact to create meaning. The urge is to read the piece as a self-contained artifact, asking how its internal workings produce effects, develop themes, or create ambiguity and unity. This is the hallmark of Formalist criticism (often taught as close reading or New Criticism).

So the idea described—emphasizing the text and treating it largely independent of author, reader, and context—best fits the formalist approach. It’s not about the author’s biography or the historical backdrop, but about what the text does within its own boundaries.