The Modern Essay Criticism
The modern essay, heralded by Michel de Montaigne's seminal work Essais in 1580, continues to be a vital and dynamic literary form. Montaigne established key characteristics of the essay—subjectivity, informality, brevity, and a polished prose style—by presenting his personal thoughts on a diverse array of topics. This foundation has allowed the essay to evolve into a platform for personal expression through letters, reviews, criticism, memoirs, and more. Influential early modern essayists like Virginia Woolf and J. B. Priestley exemplified its diverse nature, emphasizing the charm of the author's voice over the subject matter itself.
The form's legitimacy as a distinct literary genre has been debated, but as Georg Lukács argued, the essay uniquely transforms life into a conceptual order. The resurgence of personal elements in late 20th-century essays, driven by New Journalists such as Joan Didion and Tom Wolfe, further demonstrates its adaptability. These writers expanded the boundaries of the essay by incorporating subjective perspectives within their reportage. As Adorno and others have noted, the essay's capacity to experiment with style and form ensures its continued relevance as a means of intellectual exploration.
Contents
- Representative Works
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The Literary Essay and the Modern Temper
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In the following essay, Rucker outlines the evolution of the modern essay.
- The Essay In The Early Twentieth Century
- Characteristics Of The Modern Essay
- Modern Essayists
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The Essay As A Literary Genre
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On the Nature and Form of the Essay: A Letter to Leo Popper
(summary)
In the following essay, Georg Lukács explores the nature and distinctiveness of the essay as a literary form, arguing that it serves as an art form distinguished by its own structure, separate from other artistic creations, while emphasizing that its essence lies in its ability to transform life into a conceptual order rather than a mere scientific endeavor.
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The Essay as Form
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A German-born philosopher, literary and cultural critic, musicologist, and sociologist, Adorno greatly influenced the intellectual foundations of revolutionary thought in postwar Europe. He discusses the essay as a unique literary form.
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Innovations in Essaying
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In the following essay, he explores alternative forms of the modern essay.
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The Essay Lives—in Disguise
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In the following essay, Lopate discusses current popular forms of the essay and how they differ from the traditional essay form.
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Stretching the Limits of the Essay
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In the following essay, Core discusses the development of fictional qualities in the modern essay.
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On the Nature and Form of the Essay: A Letter to Leo Popper
(summary)
- Further Reading