A Study Of The Natural View Of Western Literary Theory

The concept of "nature" is one of the eternal themes in western literary theory.As a theory that truly reflects the western thinking about the relationship between literature and nature,the natural view of western literary theory is an important ideological theory guiding the development and practice of literature and art.From the Renaissance to the enlightenment,the connotation of "nature" was complex and changeable.In the Renaissance,"nature" refers to the sum of natural things in nature,but this understanding still retains the divinity of the middle ages;In the period of neoclassicism,"nature" was influenced by rationalism,which mainly pointed to the life of ordinary citizens and the natural humanity of rulers;In the period of enlightenment,"nature" finally returned to the meaning of the most real and objective existence,that is,the sum of all things in nature.This process has experienced a long theoretical development and historical evolution.Therefore,the ideological connotation of the natural view of literary theory has become rich and profound.The three periods have three different characteristics: first,it inherits the traditional imitation theory,which is essentially the unity of expressing nature and transcending nature;Second,with rationality as the core,the natural preexistence is coordinated with the individual's subjective initiative;The third is the negation of mechanical nature and the emphasis of literature and art on spirit and soul.In the process of development,the natural view of western literary theory not only inherited some old ideas,but also accepted many new ideas.The evolution of the natural view of western literary theory shows the ideological context of the development of western literary circles,which provides a rational reference for contemporary people to re understand the relationship between literature and nature.