유종호의 『시란 무엇인가』(1995)에 나타난 비교문학적 성격

초록

Yu Chong-ho’s What is Poetry (1995) is widely recognized as a representative work that comprehensively yet subjectively examines various aspects of modern Korean poetry, offering a profound exploration of its meaning and value. This article approaches Yu’s reflections on poetry in What is Poetry from a comparative literature perspective. The author argues that the fundamental question, “What is poetry?” extends beyond the specificity of modern Korean poetry and resonates as a universal literary topic, examining the criteria for determining “what is a good poem?” The paper critically reviews Yu’s positions on issues such as the grounds for comparison and the question of untranslatability. Through this examination, it demonstrates that Yu’s approach to poetry transcends the category of national literature-specifically, Korean literature-and moves toward universal significance. By analyzing Yu’s methods of perceiving and engaging with poetry, the paper suggests that this introductory work possesses substantial merit, as it implicitly incorporates a comparative literary perspective beyond an exclusive focus on the particularities of modern Korean poetry. Ultimately, this work not only explains poetry but also delves into the essence of literature itself, revealing the author’s fundamentally comparative viewpoint on poetry and literature. Yu’s comparative literary approach is particularly evident in his writing, characterized by an intentional layering and cross-reading of Korean and foreign literatures.

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