Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.3, 2024

What Is Close Reading? How to Criticize? : On Close Reading Criticism

(Abstract)

Chen Peihao

Since the 1980s, theories and methods of close reading in China have been significantly influenced by the spread of “New Criticism.” Contemporary Chinese textual interpretation has achieved remarkable results, with scholars exploring paths. Close reading criticism neither obscures the text with sociopolitical contexts nor falls into textcentrism that serves communication with history; it is a creative interpretation, but not an overinterpretation. Proper close reading illuminates details while maintaining a sense of questioning and historical awareness. Close reading criticism is closely related to the practice of textual reading and text interpretation, but with different theoretical orientations. It emphasizes both the practice of close reading and the theoretical summary and discourse construction of close reading. Today, the construction of a Chinese close reading criticism discourse system is imminent, but much work is yet to be done.