LITERATURE CONCEPT: THEORIES AND CONTROVERSIES

Abstract

The article addresses the problem of defining literature, insisting on several theories launched over time. Plato and Aristotle’s conceptions of art/literature serve as a starting point in approaching the problem. Further, a series of concepts are analyzed: literature – language/word art (Croce, G. Morpurgo-Tagliabue, Moscow linguistic circle, Society for the study of poetic language in Petrograd), the structural identity of different layers of the work (Linguistic Circle from Prague: J. Mukarovsky, B. Havranek, F. Vodicka), the literary work as a stratified product (Roman Ingarden). It is concluded that all theories are important, as they eliminate at least a part of the controversies regarding the only fair ideological interpretation of literary works.

Keywords

• literature theories
• controversies
• language
• literary work