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.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Erich Auerbach's Mimesis (1953) explores the evolution of literary realism in Western literature, analyzing a wide range of works from Homer's Odyssey and the Judeo-Christian Bible to the writings of Modernists like Virginia Woolf. Auerbach examines the representation of reality, the separation or blending of high and low styles, and the influence of sociocultural and historical contexts on literature, highlighting these shifts through detailed textual analysis and offering passages in their original languages alongside translations.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Erich Auerbach's Mimesis is hailed for its profound analysis of Western literature's representation of reality, blending historical context with literary critique. Praised for its depth and scholarly rigor, some readers find it dense and challenging. Nonetheless, it remains a seminal work, essential for literature scholars despite its demanding prose.
Who Should Read Mimesis?
A reader who enjoys Mimesis by Erich Auerbach is likely a literature enthusiast with a deep interest in literary criticism and comparative literature. They would appreciate the analytical depth found in works like Northrop Frye’s Anatomy of Criticism and Harold Bloom’s The Western Canon. Ideal for those who relish exploring the evolution of narrative realism from antiquity to modernity.