Chapter 23. Biography in Literary Criticism

  1. Garry L. Hagberg Chair3,
  2. Walter Jost Professor of English4
  1. Stein Haugom Olsen head1,2

Published Online: 17 DEC 2009

DOI: 10.1002/9781444315592.ch23

Book Title

A Companion to the Philosophy of Literature

A Companion to the Philosophy of Literature

Additional Information

How to Cite

Olsen, S. H. (2009) Biography in Literary Criticism, in A Companion to the Philosophy of Literature (eds G. L. Hagberg and W. Jost), Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK. doi: 10.1002/9781444315592.ch23

Editor Information

  1. 3

    University of East Anglia, UK

  2. 4

    University of Virginia, USA

Author Information

  1. 1

    University of Oslo, Norway

  2. 2

    Lingnan University, Hong Kong

Publication History

  1. Published Online: 17 DEC 2009
  2. Published Print: 15 JAN 2010

ISBN Information

Print ISBN: 9781405141703

Online ISBN: 9781444315592

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CHAPTER TOOLS

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Keywords:

  • biography in literary criticism;
  • dominant theoretical “schools” - against use of biography in criticism;
  • critical theory's attack on biography;
  • notion of independent, individual self - held to be a bourgeois fiction;
  • attack from Critical Theory - coming from outside critical practice;
  • attack on biographical fashion in criticism - W. K. Wimsatt's and Monroe Beardsley's “The Intentional Fallacy”;
  • distinguishing a category of relevant biographical information;
  • biographical information - aid to understanding;
  • biographical information, aid to appreciation;
  • biographical information, as integral part of appreciation

Summary

This chapter contains sections titled:

  • Critical Theory's Attack on Biography

  • The Attack from within Literary Criticism

  • Distinguishing a Category of Relevant Biographical Information

  • Biographical Information as an Aid to Understanding

  • Biographical Information as an Aid to Appreciation

  • Biographical Information as an Integral Part of Appreciation

  • Conclusion

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