桂奉瑀 『조선문학사』의 의미와 가치

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and disclose the meaning of Gye, Bongwoo's ≪History of Joseon Literature≫. Gye was an enlightenment campaigner who wandered about from place to place in China and Soviet Union remote from his homeland in his 20s and died in difficulty of diaspora. In spite of his actions in Soviet Union, it is difficult to find out apparent materialistic conception of history. He said he wrote this book, because of dissatisfaction about An, Jasan's ≪History of Joseon Literature≫. However, I made sure Gye used An's book as a frame for his book. Not only the divided periods, but also his selection of literary works or division of genres correspond each other. Gye divided the literary periods into Bal-a-gi[period of sprouting], Saeng-yook-gi[period of growth and development], Jang- seong-gi[period of maturity], Beon-yeong-gi[period of prosperity]. He assimilated the development of traditional literature to the process that a seed springs up and grows, in the point that he understood literature as a life, his idea communicates with Jo, Yoonje's ≪History of Korean Literature≫. Gye accepted An, Jasan's idea and showed the same aspect as Jo, Yoonje's viewpoint in endowment of meaning. Gye was a nationalist consistent in an edification movement. Of course, he might be received some influence from the aesthetics of social realism during his action in Soviet Union. Critical realism, viewpoint of class conflict, serious consideration of literature, etc. are the traces received influence from the aesthetics of social realism. Otherwise, his main concern was our own written letters. He insisted that possession of our own written letters is only a scale determining an identity of our literature, emphasizing that Jeong'eum munhak[literature written in Korean alphabets] is truly our own literature. Emphasis of Jeong'eum munhak[literature written in Korean alphabets] was continued to the criticism about toadyism of the ruling class, resulted to national self-reliance and emphasis of national self-respect. So, I think we can call his view of literary history as an independent view of national history. His independent view of national history might be shared with An, Jasan and Jo, Yoonje's nationalism. Especially, the vein of nationalism was succeeded from Dan Jae Shin, Chaeho to An, Jasan, the nationalism was able to bloom in a new appearance, continuing to Gye, Bongwoo who received an influence from social realism. The fact that a new level's achievement ≪History of Joseon Literature≫ succeeded An, Jasan's national view of history, and amalgamated a positivist Jo, Yoonje's national view of history was made by Gye, Bongwoo might be recorded as an event having a great meaning and value in the history of writing a literary history.