Problems and Methods of Literary History

The aim is, first to give to the novice in literary history a clear idea of the field he is entering to define its characteristics and limits, its relations with the two neighbouring provinces of literary criticism and history; next to familiarize him with the indispensable implements and tools; lastly to introduce him to the principal problems that may arise and to help him to find the solutions. These problems after all, are not endlessly variedthey fall under a certain number of headings corresponding to different stages in the creation of a literary work and to its varying fortunes with the public; for instance, questions of linguistic or grammatical commentary and interretation, questions of sources or of influence, questions of chronology or of authenticity, of biography or of bibliography, of language, style or versification.