In this chapter, as elsewhere in mimesis, we witness the authors erudition and his striking ability to make, out of detailed textual analysis and histori. But this supplement to the personal relationship of the two berliners brings to light aspects of an intellectual. Jun, 2018 erich auerbach is often called the father of comparative literature. In his incomparable book mimesis, erich auerbach refines this definition by speaking about the ways art not only reproduces the world, but also symbolizes it. The representation of reality in western literature, written during the war, in istanbul. Similar and on the mimetic faculty, both written in 1933. Mimesis by erich auerbach, edward said, willard trask pdf. Literary history and the sublime in erich auerbachs mimesis. Auerbachs famous account of the genesis of the novel, mimesis 1946, has been since its appearance one the most widely read scholarly works on literary history and criticism. Edward said called mimesis by far the largest in scope and ambition out of all the other important critical works of the past half century. Auerbach s mimesis, one of the great works of literary scholarship, was written between 1942 and 1945 in istanbul, where auerbach, a berlin jew, had taken refuge from the nazis. In that case, what erich auerbach takes in his great study mimesis to be the most mature form of art may actually be the most regressive. The representation of reality in western literature 1946, tr. He joined the faculty at yale university in 1947, becoming sterling professor of romance philology in 1956.
Fragments of a correspondence karlheinz barck the hundredth birthdays last year of walter benjamin and erich auerbach were seldom regarded as anything more than a mere fortuitous correspondence. Literary and academic production by poet isaias carvalho, who is also an anglophone literature professor at santa cruz state university uesc, ilheus. Auerbach is best known for his magisterial study mimesis. This literary theorist and romance philologist has been very influential in helping scholars understand the history of literary. One of the most significant works of literary criticism of this century, erich auerbach s mimesis undertakes a new and profound approach to major moments in western literature. Auerbach also shared hegels view that the art of mimesis produces an image of a reality. Pdf in this paper i consider how edward said elaborates his concept of exile as. Then press the merge button to get your merged pdf. The classical concept of mimesis goran sorbom 19 fine art is not eternal and constant but culturally dependent. The representation of reality in western literature author auerbach, erich book condition used binding paperback isbn 10 0691136x isbn 97806911364 publisher princeton university press place of publication princeton, nj this edition first published april 7, 2003.
Erich auerbach 18921957 eindigt mimesis met een nogal banale wens. Therepresentationofrealityinwesternliterature erich auerbach whathehomernarratesisforthetimebeingthe. In his first chapter, auerbach distinguishes between foreground and background. Opera sa principala, mimesis, realizeaza o istorie a realismului in literatura occidentala. Not until the eighteenth century was there such a concept.
A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. More than half a century after its translation into english, erich auerbachs mimesis remains a masterpiece of literary criticism. The representation of reality in western literature, trans. The representation of reality in western literature, a history of representation in western literature from ancient to modern times and frequently cited as a classic in the study of realism in literature. New and expanded edition princeton classics book 78 ebook. In his foreword to this reprint of erich auerbachs major essays, paolo valesio pays tribute to the author with an old saying that he feels is still. In 194950 he was a member of the institute for advanced study at princeton, n. A brilliant display of erudition, wit, and wisdom, his exploration of how great european writers from homer to virginia woolf depicted reality has taught generations how to read western literature. Hegel and the making of erich auerbachs mimesis project muse.
The representation of reality in western literature 1946 mimesis. The representation of reality in western literature 1946 was profoundly influenced by george wilhelm friedrich hegels idealist philosophy. The representation of reality in western literature this tightlypacked volume 579 pages in my paperback edition is a comprehensive survey of the landmarks in western fiction, from virgils the odyssey to virginia woolfs to the lighthouse. Auerbach in mimesis erich auerbach was born in berlin into a uppermiddle class jewish family. To be sure, in the case of such long episodes as the one we are considering, a purely syntactical connection with the principal theme would hardly have been possible. Oct 23, 2003 perhaps the roots of our admiration for resemblance, mirroring and doubling lie in some very early ceremony of correspondence between human beings and their recalcitrant surroundings. Welcome to the electronic reserves course readings warning concerning copyright restrictions the law of the united states title 17, united states code governs the making of. The representation of reality in west ern literature 1946 was. The representation of reality in western literature is a profound work of literary criticism, written originally in german in 1946. Erich auerbach 18921957 german philologist, educator, critic, and literary historian, originally trained as a lawyer. More than half a century after its translation into english, erich auerbach s mimesis remains a masterpiece of literary criticism. Constructing and representing reality hegel and the making of erich auerbachs mimesis 4 erich auerbachs mimesis. The first of three meditations on the work of erich auerbach included in this. The representation of reality in western literature, which opens with a famous comparison between the way the world is represented in homers odyssey and the way it appears in the bible.
All the files you upload as well as merged pdf will be deleted permanently within a few minutes. Auerbach, erich, 18921957, germanamerican philologist, literary scholar, and critic, b. A halfcentury after its translation into english, erich auerbachs mimesis still. Odysseus scar readers of the odyssey will remember the wellprepared and touching scene in book 19, when odysseus has at last come home, the scene in which the old housekeeper euryclea. The representation of reality in western literature, it quite quickly becomes evident that auerbach is not seeking to supply us with a universal recipe for realism in literature, if such a recipe. The representation of reality in western literature. Mlimesis and erich auerbach s selfmythologizing carl landauer university of california, berkeley it has been over forty years since the appearance of erich auerbach s mimesis. Auerbach, erich mimesis free ebook download as pdf file. The book was published in 1946, and this new edition, with an introduction by edward said, marks the 50th anniversary of its first appearance in the united states. Erich auerbachs mimesis has a profoundly pessimistic conclusion. This permits us to consider art as both a simulacrum of reality and an antithesis to reality. The representation of reality in western literature by erich auerbach 1946 573 p for many readers, both inside and outside the academy, mimesis is among the finest works of literary criticism ever written. Reading erich auerbach s highly influential mimesis. A halfcentury after its translation into english, erich auerbach s mimesis still stands as a monumental achievement in literary criticism.
The representation of reality in western literature fiftiethanniversary edition with a new introduction by edward w. The representation of reality in western literature german. Il realismo nella letteratura occidentale erich auerbach. Mimesis of erich auerbach was broadly worshipped and quoted by modem literary critics. Erich auerbach 9 november 1892 october 1957 was a philologist and comparative scholar and critic of literature. Certainly this is true of erich auerbachs magisterial. Mimesis project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. Welcome to the electronic reserves course readings warning concerning copyright restrictions the law of the united states title 17. Written while auerbach was teaching in istanbul, turkey, where he fled after being ousted from his professorship in romance. As such it has been produced, described and explained in different ways. Ultimately, mimesis serves to show how texts are not only. Erich auerbach, figura erich auerbach is a critic of many legacies. Auerbach, erich article about auerbach, erich by the free. The representation of reality in western literature is unquestionably the work for which erich auerbach is most famous, often considered one of the most ambitious works of literary theory ever undertaken.
Erich auerbach november 9, 1892 october, 1957 was a german philologist and comparative scholar and critic of literature. Written with the authority that comes from deep learning and full of. Odysseus, ancient greek epic poems, greek mythology, trojan war literature, homer. Mimesis 1946 on french realism and naturalism erich. Your use of the jstor archive indicates your acceptance of.
391 1001 1022 1058 1611 855 74 37 1219 1394 446 1079 1186 200 679 1080 578 1082 724 495 588 1069 796 3 1265 1258 1123 853 1037 213 265 511 362 107 173