The Yale School of Criticism

The Yale School of Criticism is a group of scholars associated with Yale University in the mid-20th century who focused on analyzing literature through a deep, close reading of texts. They emphasized understanding works of literature by exploring their language, structure, and themes, often drawing from disciplines like psychology, philosophy, and physics. Their goal was to uncover the underlying meaning and artistic qualities of a text, rather than just summarizing the story. This approach helped shift literary studies toward examining how literature creates meanings and affects readers, rather than only historical or biographical contexts.