deeper layers of meaning within the work Eagleton notes that New Criticism emphasized that literature should be studied as a professional discipline This approach aimed to elevate literary studies to a more rigorous academic level The Intentional and Affective Fallacies Eagleton critiques New Criticism for promoting the concepts of the intentional fallacy and the affective fallacy The intentional fallacy says we should not rely on what the author wanted to say when understanding a text The affective fallacy warns us not to let our feelings change how we analyze the text Limitations of New Criticism New Criticism enhanced literary analysis through precision However Eagleton argues that it neglects literature's social and historical context He points out its limitations with lengthy prose and complex narratives that demand more than textual analysis The following quotation supports this argument The limits of New Criticism were essentially the limits of liberal democracy In summary New Criticism was a dominant approach in literary studies during the mid- th century Eagleton notes that this method is useful in improving literary analysis It focuses on detailed reading and practical criticism to achieve this