M. H. Abrams

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Abrams mirror and the lamp

Meyer Howard Abrams, commonly known as M. H. Abrams (July 23, 1912 – April 21, 2015), was an eminent American literary critic, known for his work on Romanticism, literary theory, and criticism. He was a key figure in the study of English literature for over half a century and is best known for his book The Mirror and the Lamp, which significantly influenced the study of Romantic literature and the development of reader-response criticism.

Early Life and Education

M. H. Abrams was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, in 1912. He attended Harvard University, where he received his Bachelor's degree in 1934, his Master's in 1937, and his Ph.D. in 1940. His doctoral dissertation focused on Samuel Taylor Coleridge and British Romanticism, laying the groundwork for his lifelong engagement with the Romantic period.

Career

After completing his education, Abrams joined the faculty at Cornell University in 1945, where he would remain for the entirety of his career. At Cornell, he became the Frederick J. Whiton Professor of English Literature and was a mentor to many students who would go on to have distinguished careers in literary studies.

Abrams's most influential work, The Mirror and the Lamp: Romantic Theory and the Critical Tradition (1953), explores the role of the artist's mind in the creation of literature, contrasting it with the earlier, neoclassical emphasis on the external world. This book was a groundbreaking study that shifted the focus of literary criticism from the work itself to the relationship between the work and its creator, as well as the critic's response to the work.

In addition to The Mirror and the Lamp, Abrams wrote several other important works, including Natural Supernaturalism: Tradition and Revolution in Romantic Literature (1971) and Doing Things with Texts: Essays in Criticism and Critical Theory (1989). He was also the general editor of The Norton Anthology of English Literature for its first seven editions, significantly shaping the study of English literature in academia.

Contributions to Literary Theory

Abrams's contributions to literary theory and criticism are vast. He was instrumental in introducing and popularizing reader-response criticism in the United States, a critical approach that focuses on the reader's role in creating the meaning of a text. His work also contributed to the development of hermeneutics, the study of the methodology of interpretation, especially of biblical and literary texts.

Awards and Honors

Over his career, Abrams received numerous awards and honors, including the National Humanities Medal in 2013, awarded by President Barack Obama. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Philosophical Society.

Legacy

M. H. Abrams passed away on April 21, 2015, at the age of 102. His legacy in the field of literary criticism and theory is profound, with his works continuing to influence scholars and students of literature. Abrams's approach to literary criticism, particularly his emphasis on the interpretive role of the critic and the reader, has left a lasting impact on the field.