“歌德与世界文学”事件及其理论启示

Theoretical Reflection on the Case of"Goethe and World Literature"and Its Theoretical Illumination

自21世纪开始以来,世界文学理论研究已成了热门的前沿领域,歌德的“世界文学”观念也一再被重新论及。回溯至历史语境,重新讨论"歌德与世界文学"事件,可以发现这个事件中存在一系列未曾给予合理解答的问题,这些问题涉及当下讨论世界文学理论的各项议题。正是后拿破仑时代的欧洲局势,给歌德和爱克曼创造了时代的氛围,使他们有机会讨论到了中国文学和世界文学的话题。歌德并未创造关于世界文学的理论,却参与推动了世界文学的发展,可谓积极地促使其早日来临。歌德与世界文学这一案例,对于目前研究世界文学仍有其意义和价值,对当下世界文学理论研究也有一定的启示。

Since the beginning of the 21st century,the study of world literary theory has become a popular field,and Goethe's concept of “world literature” has been repeatedly mentioned.This article goes back to the historical context,re-discusses the events of Goethe and world literature,and raises a series of questions involved in this event that has not been reasonably answered.These issues are related to various topics that discuss the theory of world literature.This article points out that it is the situation in Europe in the post-Napoleonic era that created the atmosphere and timing for Goethe and Eckman,allowing them to discuss the topics of Chinese literature and world literature.Goethe did not create a theory for world literature,but he participated in the development of world literature,which could be said to actively promote its early arrival.The case of Goethe and world literature still has its significance and value for the study of world literature,and it also has certain illumination to the study of world literature theory.