The University of Chicago SAINTE-BEUVE'S CRITICAL THEORY A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND LITERATURE IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF ROMANCE LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES BY LANDER MAC CLINTOCK THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS COPYRIGHT 1920 BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO All Rights Reserved Published May 1920 Composed and Printed By PREFACE It is the plan of the following study to survey and co-ordinate Sainte-Beuve's theories and practice of criticism during the latter part of his life, after his return from Liège and his "conversion" from romanticism. It is my hope to continue somewhat adequately the great work of Michaut's Sainte-Beuve avant les lundis. The last generation of students of Sainte-Beuve have carefully expounded the scientific or naturalistic features of his work; but they have often neglected his aesthetic and classical criticism. I have tried to rectify the emphasis here and to exhibit the two aspects of his work in their true proportions. I have thought it well to give the critic's ideas and practice in his own words, following his doctrine of significant quotation. This has resulted inevitably in a somewhat broken style, my phrasing being chiefly connecting links to the master's statements. My illustrations and embodiments of Sainte-Beuve's categories, descriptions, and judgments are many, and I hope representative and comprehensive; they cannot be exhaustive. After gathering them slowly I have read the entire body of the Causeries and the Lundis rapidly and feel convinced that nothing can be found there contradictory to what is here printed-extensions, corroboration, and applications are abundant. It is a great pleasure to acknowledge my indebtedness to my teachers in the Department of Romance Languages at the University of Chicago, and to offer my thanks especially to Professor Nitze, under whose stimulating teaching and distinguished scholarship I pursued my doctoral studies, to Professor Dargan for the benefit of his deep learning and keen criticism, and to my father and mother for much help and counsel. CHICAGO May 1920 L. M. 371593 |