New Criticism

Example:

The Hippopotamus by T. S. Eliot (POEM)

The Hippopotamus


THE BROAD-BACKED hippopotamus
Rests on his belly in the mud;
Although he seems so firm to us
He is merely flesh and blood.
Flesh and blood is weak and frail,
Susceptible to nervous shock;
While the True Church can never fail
For it is based upon a rock.

The hippo's feeble steps may err
In compassing material ends,
While the True Church need never stir
To gather in its dividends.

The potamus can never reach
The mango on the mango-tree;
But fruits of pomegranate and peach
Refresh the Church from over sea.

At mating time the hippos voice
Betrays inflexions hoarse and odd,
But every week we hear rejoice
The Church, at being one with God.

The hippopotamus's day
Is passed in sleep; at night he hunts;
God works in a mysterious way;
The Church can sleep and feed at once.

I saw the potamus take wing
Ascending from the damp savannas,
And quiring angels round him sing
The praise of God, in loud hosannas.
Blood of the Lamb shall wash him clean
And him shall heavenly arms enfold,
Among the saints he shall be seen
Performing on a harp of gold.
He shall be washed as white as snow,
By all the martyrd virgins kist,
While the True Church remains below
Wrapt in the old miasmal mist. 
Interpretation:
The poem contains numerous messages but the main theme is about God. It talks about praising God and about the Church. The poem is very artistic that's why it falls under New Criticism because at the beginning, the Hippopotamus is the main topic but as you go on reading, you'll see something about religious beliefs. The meaning resides in the text - not in reader, author, or word. It has 8 syllables per line or it is an octosyllabic poem.