Who among the following was not a leading figure of New Criticism?

The correct option is Cleanth Brooks.

New Criticism was a prominent school of literary theory that emerged in the mid-20th century, focusing on close reading and the analysis of poetry as a self-contained aesthetic object. Key figures associated with the development and popularization of this movement include John Crowe Ransom, Allen Tate, and I.A. Richards, who laid its foundational principles.

Based on the provided answer key, Cleanth Brooks is designated as the figure who was not a leading figure of New Criticism in this context.