对文学本质的再思考——以韦勒克《文学理论》为研究对象

Reconsideration of the Essence of Literature:Take Wellek’s Literary Theory as the Research Object

韦勒克主要从文学语言、想象、审美三个方面探讨了文学的本质。他先是对文学语言与非文学语言的不同进行了区分,以文学语言的特质体现文学的本质,继而指出以想象为标准能够界定文学与非文学的范围,最后提到文学应兼具审美快感与审美价值。韦勒克重视“文学性”,因此,他对文学本质的探讨立足于文学内部,但实际上,韦勒克也关注到了文学与外部因素的关系。

Wellek’s analysis of literature concentrates on the“literariness”of literature which highlights three main aspects:the use of literary language,imagination,and aesthetics.Literary language has distinctive features that set it apart from non-literary language and draws on emotion,beauty,and connotation.Imagination,on the other hand,helps define the boundaries between literature and non-literature.In addition,literature should appeal to both our aesthetic senses and have the potential to provide us with aesthetic value.While Wellek focuses mostly on the internal features of literature,he also acknowledges the external factors,including the society and the writer,that may have a bearing on it.