How do literary historians think?

What is it about?

- In this article I analyze four histories of the novel (by Pavel, McKeon, Ermarth and Moretti, from the beginnings of time until the early twentieth century) with a tool I have developed. - I show how the different histories follow a clear semantic pattern. - I also argue that it is very difficult for criticis to move away from this pattern once it has been entered (this is not meant pejoratively).

Featured Image

Why is it important?

- It shows that beyond the approach of individual authors, literary history has its own patterns of meaning. - I have used the tool to analyze more than a hundred literary works, but one could of course doubt the validity of the tool I have developed. Showing that you can also use it on literary criticis shows that very often critics think precisely the way the tool is organized (which is not meant pejoratively).