“Four Kinds of Meaning” by I.A.
Richards
I.A. Richards was a well-known English literary critic and teacher who introduced a new
way of studying literature. One of his most important ideas is about how language creates
meaning—not just one kind of meaning, but four different kinds. This idea is explained in his
famous book Practical Criticism (1929).
Richards believed that when we read a text, especially poetry, we don’t just get one single
meaning. Instead, many meanings are working together at the same time. Understanding
these meanings helps us become better readers and critics.
Let’s look at these four kinds of meaning in simple terms:
1. Sense
• What it means: The literal or basic meaning of the words. It’s what the sentence or phrase
is actually saying.
• Think of it as: The information or facts that the sentence gives.
• Example: In the line “The sun rises in the east”, the sense is the simple fact that the sun appears
in the east.
• Key point: This meaning is not emotional or poetic. It is just what is being said directly.
2. Feeling
• What it means: The emotional tone or mood of the words. It’s about how the words make
us feel, and what emotions the writer is trying to show.
• Think of it as: The mood or emotional colouring of the message.
• Example: In the line “I wandered lonely as a cloud,” the word “lonely” gives us a feeling of
sadness or solitude.
• Key point: Feeling helps us understand the emotional background behind the words.
3. Tone
• What it means: The speaker’s or writer’s attitude toward the subject or the reader. It shows
how something is said, not just what is said.
• Think of it as: The speaker’s voice or attitude—serious, angry, sarcastic, loving, etc.
• Example: In the sarcastic line “What a fine mess you’ve made!”, the tone is one of disapproval,
even though the words may sound like praise.
• Key point: Tone gives us clues about the writer’s relationship with the topic and the reader.
4. Intention
• What it means: The purpose or goal of the writer or speaker. It’s about why they are saying
something.
• Think of it as: The effect the writer wants to have on us—do they want to inform, entertain,
persuade, or move us emotionally?
• Example: A poem written after a war might have the intention of creating peace or making
people think about loss.
• Key point: Intention helps us understand what the writer wants us to do or feel after
reading the text.
How These Meanings Work Together
I.A. Richards said that these four meanings are often connected. A single line of poetry
may give us information (sense), make us feel something (feeling), show an attitude (tone),
and also carry a purpose (intention)—all at the same time!
For example, in a love poem, the sense might be a description of someone’s beauty, the
feeling might be tenderness, the tone might be admiring or romantic, and the intention might
be to express deep love.
Why This Idea Is Important
• Helps Us Read Better: By breaking down the meaning into these four parts, we understand
a poem or text more deeply.
• Avoids Misunderstanding: Sometimes readers miss the emotion or the tone, and that leads
to misreading. This method helps avoid that.
• Encourages Close Reading: Richards wanted readers to focus on the words themselves, not
just the background or biography of the author.
• Gives Power to the Reader: It reminds us that meaning is not fixed. It depends on how the
reader interprets it too.
Richards’ Use of This Theory
In his book Practical Criticism, Richards gave anonymous poems to students and asked
them to write down their responses. He found that many students misunderstood the poems.
They were confused by tone or did not see the writer’s intention. That’s why Richards believed
in teaching students to be more conscious of language and its multiple meanings.
Impact and Legacy
• This theory became very popular among the New Critics, who believed in reading the text
closely without thinking about the author’s life or history.
• It helped shape literary studies and also influenced linguistics (the study of language).
• Richards’ idea laid the foundation for later theories, such as reader-response criticism,
which also focuses on how readers understand a text.
Conclusion
I.A. Richards’ Four Kinds of Meaning is a useful tool to understand how literature works.
According to him, when we read a poem or any text, we should look at:
1. Sense – What is literally being said?
2. Feeling – What emotions are being expressed?
3. Tone – What is the speaker’s attitude?
4. Intention – What does the speaker want to achieve?
By understanding all four, we can enjoy and understand literature in a more thoughtful and
complete way.
