Rhetoric, Poetics, and Literary Historiography: The Formation of a Discipline at the Turn of the Nineteenth Century

Stefan H. Uhlig's book explores the emergence of literary studies in Europe around 1800, highlighting the intellectual diversity and contestation that defined the field. He shows how three schools of literary study - rhetoric teaching, theories of poetry, and literary history - emerged and clashed, offering different visions of how to understand literature. Scottish writers taught rhetoric as self-expression, while Anglophone and German theorists of poetry engaged with and resented critics. Literary historians argued for the independence of literature from historical forces, while Matthew Arnold approached literature as a means of narrating cultural archives.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 23 January 2024
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

In his groundbreaking work, Stefan H. Uhlig delves into the intricate tapestry of the emergence of literary studies, offering a fresh perspective that challenges prevailing narratives. While most histories of the early years of this field seek to unearth the unifying origins of literature as a discipline and object of study, Uhlig takes us on a journey to the decades around 1800 in Europe, where he reveals a different truth. Instead of a singular, cohesive origin, the birth of the literary field was characterized by intellectual diversity and fierce contestation.

To illustrate this, Uhlig draws upon a rich array of European writers, showcasing how three distinct schools of literary study emerged and clashed during this pivotal period. These schools were rhetoric teaching, theories of poetry, and literary history. Each of these schools offered their own unique visions of how to understand literature, providing near-contemporaneous yet divergent perspectives.

Rhetoric and poetics played pivotal roles in shaping these schools of thought. On the one hand, rhetoric was taught as a form of self-expression, with Scottish writers like Adam Smith and Hugh Blair emphasizing the importance of effective communication and persuasive skills. In contrast, Anglophone and German theorists of poetry, such as William Wordsworth, Friedrich Schlegel, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, engaged with and often resented critics, seeking to establish their own artistic visions.

At the same time, varying opinions on the practice of literary history emerged. Immanuel Kant and Thomas De Quincey argued for the independence of literature from historical forces, viewing it as a timeless and universal art form. On the other hand, writers like Matthew Arnold approached literature as a means of narrating cultural archives, drawing on close reading and analysis to unravel the complexities of literary works.

Rhetoric, Poetics, and Literary Historiography serves as a valuable guide to past and present controversies in literary studies. By tracing the roots of current debates back to this formative moment, Uhlig provides insights into the complex interplay between intellectual diversity, artistic vision, and the historical context in which literature has evolved. This book is a must-read for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the rich tapestry of literary history and its ongoing evolution.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781512824155