Theory of Literature

by René Wellek, Austin Warren

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Theory of Literature was originally published in 1949. It is not a textbook introducing the young to the elements of literary appreciation nor a survey of the techniques employed in scholarly research. The authors have sought to unite "poetics" (or literary theory) and "criticism" (evaluation of literature) with "scholarship" ("research") and "literary history" (the "dynamics"of literature, in contrast to the "statics" of theory and criticism).

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6 reviews
I was so happy that I did not have to read it once again when I passed my exam on basics of literary history.... I had the Dutch version, the translators did a good job, but a very tough book stays a very tough book.
It is very abstract, despite the writers added examples. No, I keep it, for old times sake, but not to read again.
[The book] undertakes to arrange the main problems of literary study from the standpoint of what the authors call the ‘intrinsic’ concern for literature. Chapters on the nature of literature, on metre, style, metaphor, symbol, fictional technique and genres form the core of the book, but the ‘extrinsic’ approaches are not slighted: literature in relation to psychology, society, ideas and problems of editing and of literary history.

The peculiar success of this work lies in the harmony of powers sometimes mutually restrictive – clear theoretical vision and diverse learning. The perspective is international, and from it a panorama of modern literary scholarship from America to the Slavic world is unfolded. It is an indispensable show more manual for every student of literature. show less
Set book at university. Unread.
Obra de referência, 'Teoria da Literatura' é um estudo da natureza, função, forma e conteúdo da obra literária. Neles, os autores procuram unir a poética (ou teoria literária) e o criticismo (valoração da literatura) à erudição investigativa e à história literária.
Jun 18, 2021Portuguese (Portugal)

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Some Editions

Anbeek, Ton (Translator)
Etty, Tom (Translator)
Fontijn, Jan (Translator)
Halverson, Janet (Cover designer)
Sewell, John (Cover designer)

Series

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Common Knowledge

Canonical title
Theory of Literature
Original title
Theory of Literature
Original publication date
1946

Classifications

Genres
Literature Studies and Criticism, Nonfiction, Fiction and Literature
DDC/MDS
801Literature & rhetoricLiterature, rhetoric & criticismPhilosophy and theory
LCC
PN45 .W36Language and LiteratureLiterature (General)Literature (General)Theory. Philosophy. Esthetics
BISAC

Statistics

Members
543
Popularity
54,507
Reviews
5
Rating
(4.00)
Languages
14 — Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese, Serbian, Spanish, Swedish
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
24
ASINs
23