On The Intrinsic Approach To The Study Of Literature Of Wellek

Rene Wellek(1903—1995)is not only the core character of the New Criticism, but also a historical critic who insists on the intrinsic approach to the study of literature. The intrinsic approach to the study of literature of Wellek is proposed in "The Theory of Literature" and is applied to "Modern Times Literature Critical History", which supports his literature theory. In eight levels of Wellek's intrinsic approach to the study, we feel the most novel and valuable problems are sound,image,metaphor,symbol,myth and the literature type. This essay tries to analyze and evaluate Wellek's intrinsic approach to the study. Firstly, the essay introduces the background,the main works,the basic thought of the intrinsic approach to the study, namely the research of the formal analysis.And then the essay enters the body which consists seven parts. The first part analyzes the sound level, that is studying the homophone,rhythm and meter. First, Wellek points the sound includes the inherent factor-homophone and the relational factor rhythm and meter which are based on the pitch,the extension of the sound,accent. In addition, Wellek opposes to making the poets equal to the songs. Second, while analyzing the effect of the sound Wellek thinks the sound' model is very important, and builds the bridge between the sound level and the meaning level through the study of the rhyme. Finally, discussing the analysis of the graphic,musical and acoustics meter theory made by Wellek and the advantages and the disadvantages. The second part analyzes the image. Firstly, the essay defines the image. Wellek thinks the image is not only the vision ,but also the reflection of the psychology. Then explaining the reasons of the relations among image,metaphor and symbol. At last, denying the point that emphasizes visible image. The third part analyzes the metaphor. The part included three levels:1,Defining the metaphor.2,Analyzing the difference between the comparison,double vision,explaining the image that can not be understood,sorcery projection.3,Take the example to oppose John's attack.The fourth part analyzes the symbol. To begin with ,defining the symbol. Besides, analyzing three kinds of the symbol: pure symbolism, personal and traditional symbolism, natural symbolism. What's more, probing into the difference between the symbol and the message.The fifth part analyzes myth. Wellek thinks the myth refers to a story or a kind of narration .The understandings of the myth are:1,the myth results from the religious rite.2,the vital subject of the myth is the social or the supernatural image or picture.3,the mythical literature criticism does not solve the literature theory.4,the myth has various use. The sixth part analyzes the literature type. The reason why Wellek inclines to the formal study:1,the external form is closely related to the intrinsic form.2,the 17th and the 18th theory is not exact.3,the concept o f the type is constantly changing . Lastly, Wellek gives two suggestions(1)Probing into the relation between the original and the developed type.(2)Paying attention to the succession of the type. The seventh part evaluates the advantages and the disadvantages of Wellek's intrinsic study. The evaluation can be divided into two parts, on the one hand to affirm the positive meaning :1,Wellek emphasizes the study of the sound.2,Wellek can analyzes the relations among image,metaphor,symbol and myth.3,Wellek inclines to the formal study of the type.4,Applying the intrinsic study to the literature theory and the critical history. On the other hand, pointing out the defects of the intrinsic study:1,the intrinsic study to the literature rejects the relation between the literature and the life.2,Wellek's study of the narrative story is insubstantial.3,The intrinsic approach mainly solves the problem of the poem and the essay instead of the other literature pattern. In general, Wellek's intrinsic approach to the literature contributes a lot to the literature study.