Wellek, a central figure in the development of Comparative Literature and a proponent of the "New Criticism" movement, sought to create a "history of the interpretation of literature." Unlike previous scholars who focused primarily on the lives of authors or the social history surrounding books, Wellek focused on the evolution of critical concepts, judgment, and the theoretical frameworks used to analyze the "work of art" itself.
Wellek’s dedication to precise, historical research makes it a model for literary history. 5. Locating "A History of Modern Criticism Rene Wellek PDF"
– Shifts into the dizzying array of early 20th-century movements, from Symbolism to early Formalism. a history of modern criticism rene wellek pdf
For anyone serious about literary theory, René Wellek’s is the undisputed "gold standard." Spanning eight volumes and decades of scholarship, this monumental work tracks the evolution of how we think about literature, from the Enlightenment to the mid-20th century.
Wellek's work is notable for its international perspective, breaking down the parochial view that often dominates national literature studies. He highlights how ideas traveled between Germany, England, France, Italy, and America, shaping modern thought. Key focus areas in A History of Modern Criticism include: Wellek, a central figure in the development of
Wellek’s work is famously structured in several volumes, focusing on different periods and traditions:
The eight volumes are organized chronologically, covering the periods from 1750 to 1950. Locating "A History of Modern Criticism Rene Wellek
(1955) – Explores the explosion of romantic criticism in Germany, England, and France, spotlighting critical giants such as Goethe, Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Madame de Staël.
| Volume | Title | Year | Focus | Page Count | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1 | The Later Eighteenth Century | 1955 | The decline of Neoclassicism and rise of new critical doctrines in England, France, Germany, and Italy. | 358 | | 2 | The Romantic Age | 1955 | Major Romantic critics like Coleridge, Wordsworth, and their European counterparts. | 459 | | 3 | The Age of Transition | 1965 | Covering 19th-century critics in France, England, and the United States. | 389 | | 4 | The Later Nineteenth Century | 1965 | In-depth studies of influential figures from Russia to America, including Marx and Engels. | 671 | | 5 | English Criticism, 1900-1950 | 1986 | A survey of 20th-century English criticism. | 343 | | 6 | American Criticism, 1900-1950 | 1986 | Exploration of the New Critics and other key American figures. | 345 | | 7 | German, Russian, and Eastern European Criticism, 1900-1950 | 1991 | Analyses of influential critics like Auerbach, Bakhtin, and Benjamin. | 458 | | 8 | French, Italian, and Spanish Criticism, 1900-1950 | 1992 | The final volume covers the "great age" of criticism from 1900-1950 in Southern Europe. | 369 |
These later volumes cover the complex landscape of modernism, new criticism, formalist approaches, and Marxism. Wellek’s Critical Approach: Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic
Instead, Wellek looked for . For Wellek, a true critic must have an underlying philosophy of what literature is (ontology) and how it functions (aesthetics). Throughout the eight volumes, Wellek evaluates every historical figure based on a core set of questions: What is the critic's definition of poetry or literature?