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A comprehensive examination of the meaning, history, and evolution of the basic notion of "literature" from antiquity to the seventeenth century.
The "idea of literature" is the very kernel of every literary study; however, this is the first survey of the historical development of this idea. Its purpose is to refute the belief, particularly prevalent in French criticism, that the "idea of literature" only appeared in the eighteenth century, and that it was perceived strictly as an art.
"This book documents the slowness of institutionalization, particularly of literature. It describes the chaotic and gradual growth of the concept of literature. Without having any axe to grind, it neatly deconstructs (or, at least pokes holes into) any kind of purely rationalist/voluntarist view of invention so prevalent nowdays." — Virgil Nemoianu, Catholic University of America
"Contrary to the widespread belief that the idea of literature in our modern sense emerged in the eighteenth century, Marino convincingly demonstrates that it goes back to ancient times. He makes the interesting point that much of what we identify as literature belonged, in antiquity and in the medieval period, to the domain of orality. Marino does an outstanding job covering the least known stages in the history of the concept of literature, from Greco-Roman antiquity through the Renaissance and Neo-Classical to the age of the Baroque." — Matei Calinescu, Indiana University
Acknowledgments
Preface
I. Antiquity
First Definitions
Written Literature
Oral Literature
Sacred Literature
Profane Literature
Literary Culture
Grammar and Culture
Vocation for Totality
The Book
The Library
The Beginning of Bibliography
The Encyclopedia
"Liberal Art"
"Human Letters"
"Good Letters"
The Coordinates of Culture
New Versus Old Letters
National Versus Universal Letters
The Beginning of Estheticizing
"Beautiful Letters"
Literary Versus Poetic Specificity
Autonomy and Heteronomy
Hierarchy in Literature
The School of Literature
Letters "Spawn" Literature
Critical Literature
Denying Literature
Conclusions
II. The Middle Ages
Sacred Letters
Profane Letters
Written Literature
Oral Literature
The Culture of Letters
Grammar and Culture
The Totality of Letters
The Book
The Library
The Bibliography
The Encyclopedia
Diversification of Profane Letters
"Liberal Letters"
"Human Letters"
"Good Letters"
The Coordinates of Letters
New Versus Old Letters
National Versus Universal Letters
Popular Letters
Estheticizing Letters
"Beautiful Letters"
Literature and Poetry
Poetic Literature
Literariness: Sacred Versus Profane
The Beginning of Autonomy
The Heteronomy of Letters
Hierarchy in Literature
The School of Literature
The Study of Literature
Literary Composition
Literature on Literature
Critical Literature
Denying Literature
Conclusions
III. The Renaissance and Humanism
Letters Are Humanized and Spiritualized
"Human Letters"
"Liberal Letters"
"Good Letters"
Profane Letters
Written Literature
Oral Literature
Sacred Letters
The Culture of Letters
Grammar and Culture
The Totality of Literature
Encyclopedic Knowledge
Letters and Print
The Book of Literature
The Literature Library
The Beginning of Bibliography
The Coordinates of Letters
New Versus Old Letters
National Versus Universal Letters
Popular Letters
Estheticizing Letters
"Beautiful Letters"
Beautiful Literature
Literature or Poetry?
Literary Art
Literary Versus Poetic Specificity
The Autonomy of Literature: Progress
The Heteronomy of Literature
"The Republic of Letters"
Society
Economy
Ideology
Hierarchy in Literature
The School of Literature
The Study of Literature
Literature with Literature
Literature on Literature
Critical Literature
Denying Literature
Conclusions
IV. Classicism and the Baroque
Traditional Definitions
Grammar and Culture
Written Literature
Oral Literature
Sacred Literature
Profane Literature
Organizing Letters
The Totality of Letters
The Book
The Library
The Bibliography
The Encyclopedia
The Classicization of Traditional Definitions
"Human Letters"
"Liberal Letters"
"Good Letters"
The Coordinates of Letters
Ancient Versus Modem Letters
National Versus World Literature
Popular Letters
Estheticizing Letters
"Beautiful Letters"
Beautiful Literature
Literature or Poetry?
Poetic Literature
Literary Art
Literary Versus Poetic Specificity
The Autonomy of Literature
The Heteronomy of Literature
"The Republic of Letters"
Society
Economy
Ideology
Hierarchy in Literature
The School of Literature
Literature with Literature
Literature on Literature
Critical Literature
Denying Literature
Conclusions
Notes
Name Index
Thematic Index