4. The American New Critics in particular were high church Anglican tories, sometimes even neo-confederates.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
5. The exultation of the text in New Criticism was liturgy by other means.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
6. A digression: mid-20th century literary criticism was often theology waged by other means: New Critics, Frye, McLuhan, TS Eliot, CS Lewis
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Replying to @HeerJeet
7. Empson hated what he called the "neo-Christian" mood of 20th century literary criticism, which he saw as a retreat from liberalism.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
8. Empson's 1961 book Milton's God was his full throttle attack on the neo-Christians, an attempt to liberate literature from theology.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
9. Thesis of Milton's God: "The Christian God...is the wickedest thing yet invented by the black heart of man."
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Replying to @HeerJeet
10. Further thesis: Milton tried to make Christian God more palatable to morality. Milton failed but his failure created fruitful tension.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
11. In sum, the reason Paradise Lost is so good is because the God in the poem is so bad. So poem works to undermine faith.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
12. The notable thing about Milton's God is not just argument but the tone: a deliberately insolent, school boy naughty nose-tweaking.
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@peligrietzer No, by the time of Milton's God, Empson was definitely liberal and not pro-communist.
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Replying to @peligrietzer
@peligrietzer@HeerJeet "Some Versions of Pastoral" is the crucial text for considering Empson and communism. (Also, I think, his best book)1 reply 0 retweets 1 like - Show replies
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