Abstract
Aguiar e Silva'sTeoria da Literatura has been a reference for many generations of literary scholars. Departing from old scholarly models, this work seems however torn between its properly theoretical interests, which are potentially universal and explanation-based, and the imperative tounderstandits object in a strict adherence to its historical character. The work strived to reconcile incompatible disciplinary premises, affording to do so in an institutional framework that recently underwent deep transformations. These concerned both the cognitive purposes and the means through which Literature is studied. Nevertheless, understanding how the theoretical matrix of this investigation was brought about is important if we intend to grasp the possibilities that it might still offer for Literary Studies. This article addresses the concept of “literature” employed in this model of History, theorized in Aguiar e Silva’s textbook. We also discuss the search of alternatives to the current periodological catalog, especially concerning the author’s doctoral thesis on Mannerism and Baroque.
Keywords
Literary Theory; Literary History; Mannerism