Periodization and Interart Analogies
Alastair Fowler
HE GROUNDS for scepticism about interart analogies are extensive. One is the record of self-contradiction and silliness in transferring art historical terms: best can say casual speculations even Bernard Fehr, Wylie Sypher Mario Praz that they leave hypothesis analogy substantially untested.1 A more fundamental ground C. S. Lewis's reason not joining search meanings periods: content past may have a meaning. Even if it has, we never know content. The greater part life actually lived . consists minute particulars uncommunicated, incommunicable, experiences which escape record. .... On such basis seems to me impossible reach sort knowledge implied very idea 'philosophy' history. 2 Imagine what future cultural historians our own period. Must tidy up confused cluttered scene? But one way historian knows too little, another he much period classifications. Anyone who studies literature finds consist mostly exceptional cases. Metaphysical conceits, example, so common poetry; whereas striking instances occur elsewhere, as Jonson's image brave infant Saguntum. And this true schools poetry, when turn whole periods megaperiods well find-as indeed himself inadvertently put its-that all things exist every history.3 However, say, with Lynn Thorndike, human nature tends remain same at times;4 still less
New Literary History