'Literary criticism and literary history both attempt to characterize the individuality of a work, of an author, of a period, or of a national literature...' 'But this characterization can be accomplished only in universal terms, on the basis of a literary theory.' How to explore the assumptions on which literary study is based and to create such a literary theory is the subject or René Wellek and Austin Warren's ground-breaking and now classic study. In developing their arguments the authors consider both extrinsic and intrinsic factors in their search for 'an organum of method'. Thus there are chapters on literature as studied through the lens of biography, psychology, society, ideas and other arts. A substantial section is devoted to the formal nature of literature, style: metre, imagery and metaphor, narrative and literary genres. The result is an indispensable handbook for every student.
