2007-08 BM1: Session 2

Back to 2007-08 BM1 Introduction to the Critical and Scholarly Discussion of Literature, Part 1

Argument 1: Our historical periodisations are arbitrary

• Our present histories of literature show different and competing periodisations, two conflicting positions towards periods should be reflected:

• Periods exist with each era producing its characteristic literature. The great works of a period help us - consequently - to better understand the frame of mind of each age.
• We produce ever changing periodisations to "prove" historical developments we want to claim as our cultural heritage. We base our notions of these developments on a canon of literary works which we select and interpret in order to produce the periods we want to have.

• History and the past have played entirely different roles over the centuries. The discussion of historical and future developments are relatively new fields of the cultural debate.
• If you do written work on the university level

• Do not enrich your seminar papers with explanations of the period - which you feel your reader might need to understand the work in question (your reader can be expected to inform himself on such trivia).
• You may critically discuss common or less common notions about periods (as to be found in Wikipedia, the Encyclopedia Britannica or in specific scientific works) - if you feel these notions distorted our view on materials you want to examine closer.