The Origins of Russian Literary Theory: Folklore, Philology, Form

Russian Formalism is widely considered the foundation of modern literary theory, but this book reevaluates it in light of the current commitment to rethink the concept of literary form in cultural-historical terms. Jessica Merrill provides a novel reconstruction of the intellectual historical context that enabled the emergence of Formalism in the 1910s, highlighting the aspects of its legacy that speak to the priorities of twenty-first-century literary studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2022
Publisher: Northwestern University Press

Russian Formalism, widely regarded as the cornerstone of modern literary theory, has undergone a fresh examination in this book, considering its relevance in the context of reevaluating the concept of literary form within cultural-historical perspectives. In her insightful contribution, Jessica Merrill offers a novel reconstruction of the intellectual historical backdrop that paved the way for the emergence of Formalism in the 1910s. The Formalists embraced a philosophical framework known as the philological paradigm, which amalgamated language, literature, and folklore into a unified realm of verbal tradition. For those who subscribed to this perspective, verbal tradition was considered an inseparable part of cultural history.

By situating early literary theories within this philological paradigm, Merrill uncovers neglected pathways in the history of the discipline. She sheds light on ideas that were marginalized by the structuralist and post-structuralist accounts that emerged after World War II. The book delves into lost Formalist theories of authorship, the psychology of narrative structure, and the social dissemination of poetic innovations. These theories posit that literary form is invariably shaped by the interplay of human psychology and cultural history.

Through the recontextualization of Russian Formalism within this philological framework, The Origins of Russian Literary Theory highlights the enduring aspects of Formalism's legacy that resonate with the contemporary concerns of literary studies. It underscores the significance of understanding the historical and psychological dimensions of literary form in order to unravel the complexities of artistic expression and its role in shaping societies. This book serves as a valuable resource for scholars and students alike, offering a fresh perspective on the foundations of literary theory and its enduring relevance in the twenty-first century.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780810144910