The Mutations Of Literary Interpretation: A History Of Change From Hermeneutics To Cyberspace

Résumé: Interpretation is a foundational aspect of human cognition, in general, for it entails the act of (re)assigning meaning to utterances, objects, events, etc. In the field of literature, theories of criticism are devoted to explore the most efficient ways of approaching texts and extracting their meanings. In view of a long and intricate history of contesting modes of interpretation, readdressing the question of variety and change in terms of analytical perspectives and critical methods continues to be relevant. Thus, the present paper focuses on the main turning points in the conceptualisation of literary interpretation in order to trace the defining notions developing from the medieval age to the contemporary era. The discussion highlights several alterations, in the definition and practice of interpretation, occurring as a result of changing intellectual and sociopolitical circumstances. Each of the mutations re-define and re-appropriate the position of the interpreter vis-à-vis the literary text.

Publié dans la revue: الباحث