Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.3, 2024

 

Cross the Bridge from Textual Close Reading to the Path of Modern Criticism

(Abstract)

 

Duan Chongxuan

 

“Close reading” criticism, encompassing concepts such as textual theory and literary texts, is a term that is simple and easy to understand, yet it carries extraordinary weight and significance in the fields of literature and criticism. Its original meaning is to regard the work as the “center” and noumenon of literature. Over the past four decades of the new era, various Western literary critical trends and schools have come and gone in China, but one continuous “vein” has been close reading criticism. It is neither a trend nor a school of thought, but rather a method and strategy of criticism, as well as an “obsession” and spirit. Some critics have used the method of close reading to interpret and critique authors’ works for decades. Contemporary literary criticism is in a period of transition and transformation, with traditional conceptual and social criticism still occupying a dominant position. To achieve a modern transformation of literary criticism, it is possible to embark on the “path” of modern criticism from the “bridge” of close reading criticism. Close reading criticism both contains a wonderful “landscape” and conceals marvelous paths.