I-VI -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- PREFACE -- CONTENTS -- I. MARKING THE BOUNDARIES -- 1. RUSSIAN FORMALISM -- 2. NEW CRITICISM -- II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL CONCEPTS -- 1. THE IDEALISTIC TREND -- 2. THE NEO-POSITIVIST TREND -- III. FROM CAUSALITY TO PURPOSlVENESS: A STORY OF PRACTICAL CRITICISM -- IV. RECAPITULATION AND PERSPECTIVES -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDEX