The Problems of the Literary History of Modern Lyric. Boundary Works and Periodization

This paper offers a literary-historical approach to modern lyricism, starting from the problems that arise on the basis of periodization. It outlines the external boundaries of modernity (romanticism/modernity, modernity/postmodernity) and its internal divisions (classical modernity, avant-garde, late modernity). Meanwhile, it focuses on how the self-interpretation of poetry changed during the period encompassing modern lyricism. Indicatively, the reflection concludes with a discussion of the ways in which individual works within modern poetry, intertwined with innovation, challenge hierarchies and normative approaches. For the breaking of the signs of continuity, the dialogue and self-reflection, even contradictory positioning of isms and concrete works cannot be eliminated from the processes in question, just as it is not always possible to derive them from a stable, central thesis. The dilemma of whether a comprehensive picture of modern lyric poetry can be developed at all can well be called the greatest paradox in the history of lyric poetry.