Seven Types of Ambiguity

by William Empson

Overview

First published in 1930, Seven Types of Ambiguity has long been recognized as a landmark in the history of English literary criticism.

Revised twice since it first appeared, it has remained one of the most widely read and quoted works of literary analysis. Ambiguity, according to Empson, includes "any verbal nuance, however slight, which gives room for alternative reactions to the same piece of language." From this definition, broad enough by his own admission sometimes to see "stretched absurdly far," he launches into a brilliant discussion, under seven classifications of differing complexity and depth, of such works, among others, as Shakespeare's plays and the poetry of Chaucer, Donne, Marvell, Pope, Wordsworth, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and T. S. Eliot.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811200370
Publisher:	New Directions Publishing Corporation
Publication date:	01/17/1966
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	438,254
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

William Empson was a 20th century English literary critic and writer.

Editorial Reviews

"...a brilliant poet-critic, equally gifted in both departments."

New York Times Book Review