I.A. Richards was an influential English critic and poet in the early 20th century. He introduced new ways of reading poetry that focused on figurative language and the author's intended meanings and feelings. According to Richards, words can carry four kinds of meanings: sense, feelings, tone, and intention. Figurative language like metaphors and similes are important but can also lead to misunderstanding if the author's intentions are not understood. Richards argued for close textual analysis and consideration of the author's context to properly interpret literary works and avoid misreading due to assumptions.