57 pages • 1 hour read
Erich AuerbachMimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1946A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
How do you see the separation or mingling of styles manifesting themselves in literature since the publication of Mimesis (1953)?
Do you see traces of figural realism in modern-day literature? How do you see it manifesting itself?
How has your understanding of Western literary history changed after reading Mimesis?
Do you see traces of creatural realism in modern-day literature? How do you see it manifesting itself?
What works might a non-Western-centric study of literary history include, and what patterns might that study trace?
Do you see any similarities between the Western realism Auerbach traces and the realism of other cultures?
Are there pre-World War II works of literature that you think contradict or break Auerbach’s chosen patterns? What works and why?
Auerbach’s study of Western literature focused on European literature, but studies of Western literature generally include American works, as well. What American works might you add to this study, and how do they fit within the patterns Auerbach traced?
Choose your favorite contemporary book and analyze it using Auerbach’s method and chosen themes.
How do you think the lack of works from German, English, and other European traditions affects the credibility of Auerbach’s study?
