Seven Types of Ambiguity

Seven Types of Ambiguity, critical work by William Empson, published in 1930 and revised in 1947 and 1953. The book was influential as one of the foundations of the school of literary theory known as New Criticism.

In Seven Types of Ambiguity Empson sought to enhance the reader’s understanding of a poem by isolating the linguistic properties of the text. He suggested that words or references in poems are often ambiguous and, if presented coherently, carry multiple meanings that can enrich the reader’s appreciation of the work. He argued that the complexities of cognitive and tonal meanings in poetry form the basis of the reader’s emotional response.