Paul Fry

Paul H. Fry is an American literary critic and Professor Emeritus of English at Yale University, specializing in British Romanticism, the history of literary criticism, contemporary literary theory, and the intersections between literature and the visual arts. He served as the William Lampson Professor of English from 1993 until his retirement in 2018 after 47 years on the Yale faculty.

Education and early career Fry initially pursued a career in painting before transitioning to academia.

Academic career

Appointments at Yale Fry's career at Yale progressed through several ranks. He served as Acting Instructor from 1972 to 1974, Assistant Professor from 1974 to 1979, and Associate Professor from 1979 to 1986, receiving tenure in 1982. He was promoted to full Professor in 1986 and named William Lampson Professor of English in 1993, a position he held until his retirement. Executive Co-Chair, Yale–New Haven Teachers Institute and its national counterpart, the Yale National Initiative

Art criticism In addition to his literary scholarship, Fry has published essays on painting and exhibition reviews for the influential journal ARTnews.

Beyond literary theory, Fry taught specialized courses on British Romantic poetry and criticism, including English 129 and advanced seminars. He also offered classes on ekphrasis, exploring intersections between literature and visual arts. His pedagogical approach prioritized clear explanations of intricate ideas and encouraged students to develop persuasive arguments grounded in genuine conviction.

For seven years, Fry led summer seminars for secondary school teachers through the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute and the Yale National Initiative, bringing his expertise to educators beyond the university.

Awards and recognition Melville Cane Award of the Poetry Society of America (1980) for The Poet's Calling in the English Ode Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teaching Award, Kennedy Center for the Arts (2011) Faculty retirement tribute, Yale Faculty of Arts and Sciences (2018)

Selected publications

Books Fry, Paul H. (1980). The Poet's Calling in the English Ode. New Haven: Yale University Press. Fry, Paul H. (1984). The Reach of Criticism: Method and Perception in Literary Theory. New Haven: Yale University Press. Fry, Paul H. (1990). William Empson: Prophet Against Sacrifice. London: Routledge. Fry, Paul H. (1996). A Defense of Poetry: Essays on the Occasion of Writing. Stanford: Stanford University Press. Fry, Paul H. (2008). Wordsworth and the Poetry of What We Are. New Haven: Yale University Press. Fry, Paul H. (2012). Theory of Literature. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Articles "Ezra Stiles's Idea of a University." Journal of Aesthetic Education, Vol. 36, No. 3 (Autumn 2002), pp. 4–8.