Question

Who among the following has been credited with laying the foundation of comparative literature by Russian Formalists?

• A. Viktor Shklovsky
• B. Alexander Veselovsky
• C. Vladimir Propp
• D. Roman Jakobson

Hint:

Comparative literature involves analyzing texts across cultures and languages, and Veselovsky contributed significantly to the field through his comparative approach.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding Russian Formalism.
Russian Formalism is a school of literary theory that emphasizes the function and structure of literary texts. The Russian Formalists laid the foundation of comparative literature by analyzing the formal aspects of texts, focusing on style, structure, and language rather than content or history.

Step 2: Explanation of the options.
(A) Viktor Shklovsky was a prominent figure in Russian Formalism, but he is more associated with defamiliarization rather than with the foundation of comparative literature. (B) Alexander Veselovsky is known for laying the foundation of comparative literature by the Russian Formalists. His work primarily focused on the historical and comparative study of literary genres, making him the correct answer. (C) Vladimir Propp is known for his work on the structure of folktales, but he is not primarily credited with the foundation of comparative literature. (D) Roman Jakobson is a major figure in linguistic analysis of literature, but he is not credited with the foundation of comparative literature.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (B) Alexander Veselovsky, who is credited with laying the foundation of comparative literature by Russian Formalists.