The Growth of Literature

A pioneering comparative study in three volumes, published 1932–1940, covering the development of world literature from Iceland to Polynesia.

H. Munro Chadwick (Author), Nora K. Chadwick (Author)

9781108016155, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 31 October 2010

806 pages
21.6 x 14 x 4.1 cm, 0.92 kg

First published between 1932 and 1940, this is a three-volume study of the historical development of literature. It explores the oral and written literatures of regions from Iceland and the British Isles, to Russia, the Balkans, Africa, India and the Pacific, placing them in their historical context and examining similarities between them. The authors discuss both ancient and recent texts, illustrating the connections within each group and considering the question of whether all literary growth is influenced by common factors. Praised on publication as '… a work that is not, probably could not be, superseded' (International Journal of Comparative Sociology), the book remains a benchmark for those studying comparative literature or the history of literary criticism. Volume 2 focuses particularly on Russia and the Balkans, and also surveys both early Indian and early Hebrew literature.

Preface
Corrigenda
Explanatory note on 'types' and 'saga'
Part I. Russian Oral Literature: 1. Introduction. Oral tradition and writing
2. Heroic poetry. The Byliny
3. The heroic milieu. Individualism in the heroic poems
4. Historical and unhistorical elements in the Byliny
5. The texts
6. Saga
7. Non-heroic poetry. The Stikhi (1)
8. Poetry relating to scriptural subjects and to the saints of the Greek church. The Stikhi (2)
9. Post-heroic, antiquarian, gnomic and descriptive poetry and saga
10. Poetry relating to unspecified individuals
11. The recitation and composition of heroic poetry and saga. The Skaziteli
12. The recitation and composition of religious poetry. The Kalêki
13. The popular poet and story-teller
List of abbreviations used in Part I
Part II. Yugoslav Oral Poetry: 1. Introduction. Literature and writing
2. Heroic poetry
3. Non-heroic poetry
4. The heroic milieu. Individualism
5. Unhistorical elements in heroic poetry
6. Poetry relating to supernatural beings
7. Poetry relating to unspecified individuals
8. The remaining categories. (1) Antiquarian poetry, (2) Gnomic, descriptive and mantic poetry
9. The texts
10. Recitation and composition. The poet
Part III. Early Indian Literature: 1. Introduction. Literature and writing
2. Heroic poetry
3. The heroic milieu. Individualism
4. Non-heroic poetry and saga
5. Historical and unhistorical elements in heroic poetry
6. Poetry and saga relating to deities
7. Antiquarian learning
8. Gnomic and descriptive poetry
9. Poetry (and prose) relating to unspecified individuals
10. Mantic poetry and prose
11. The texts
12. Recitation and composition. The author
Part IV. Early Hebrew Literature: 1. Introduction. Literature and writing
2. The heroic age. Heroic saga and poetry
3. Non-heroic saga and poetry
4. The heroic milieu. Individualism
5. Historical and unhistorical elements in heroic poetry
6. Antiquarian learning
7. Theological and mantic literature
8. Gnomic and descriptive literature. Literature relating to unspecified individuals
9. The texts. Recitation and composition
10. The author
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary theory [DSA]