Literary Theory: A New Edition

Author: Yang Chunshi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Literary Theory: A New Introduction is the foundational part of literary theory. Before studying it, one must first clarify the disciplinary nature, tasks, learning methods, and pathways for building literary theory. It establishes a model of literary structure: the deep prototypical level, the surface realistic level, and the transcendental aesthetic level. It distinguishes the prototypical, realistic, and aesthetic meanings of literature, thereby eliminating the singular concept of literary essence in traditional literary theory and establishing a multi-faceted view of literary essence. On this basis, it defines multiple functions, forms, and a series of categories of literature, thereby creating a completely new and rigorous modern literary theory system.
Establishing the transcendental aesthetic essence of literature does not fully resolve the question of its nature, as literature possesses other meanings beyond its aesthetic significance. The unique contribution of this textbook lies first in abandoning the singular concept of literary essence in traditional literary theory and establishing a multi-faceted view of literary essence.
Starting from aesthetic experience and literary structure analysis, the textbook confirms that literature has three levels: prototypical (deep), realistic (surface), and aesthetic (transcendental). Correspondingly, it forms three forms of literature: popular literature, serious literature, and pure literature. It also highlights the fun and entertainment function, ideological function, and edification function of popular literature; the ideological function and edification function of serious literature; and the aesthetic function and transcendental function of pure literature.