Which among the following critics stated that, “The object of study in literary science is not literature but ‘literariness’, that is, what makes a given work a literary work?
Correct Answer :
Roman Jakobson
Solution :
The correct option is Roman Jakobson.
Detailed Explanation:
The quote, “The object of study in literary science is not literature but ‘literariness’, that is, what makes a given work a literary work,” was formulated by the Russian-American linguist and literary theorist Roman Jakobson in his 1921 work, Modern Russian Poetry.
Understanding the Concept of "Literariness" (Literaturnost'):
1. Russian Formalism: Roman Jakobson was a leading figure of Russian Formalism, a school of literary criticism that flourished in Russia during the early 20th century. The Formalists sought to establish literary study as an objective, scientific discipline independent of biography, psychology, history, or sociology.
2. Shifting the Focus: Jakobson argued that traditional literary critics often studied everything surrounding a work (the author’s life, historical context, or philosophical implications) rather than the work itself. To make literary study a true science, he asserted that critics must focus on the linguistic and structural features that make a text artistic.
3. Defining the Object: "Literariness" refers to the specific aesthetic devices, linguistic patterns, and formal structures (such as rhythm, meter, syntax, and metaphor) that distinguish a literary text from ordinary communicative language.
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