陶南의 생애와 학문

Abstract

Cho, Youn-je(1904-1976) had a great influence on Korean academic circles as a pioneer of Korean literary study. Nevertheless there has been few profound studies on his academic achievements as well as his life until now. In this paper, I examined his life and scholastic achievement on a full scale, and discussed how we should succeed to his academic heritage today. As for his life, I emphasized that he was not a mere scholar, but an intellectual who devoted himself to national liberation and the reunification of Korea. Above all, I preponderantly examined his social activities after liberation, such as joining in negotiation for the reunification of Korea in 1948 and playing a leading role for demonstration of professors in the 4.19 Revolution. I also, in connection with his life, examined his main works like Chosn-sigasa-gang(朝鮮詩歌史綱 : The History of Korean poems and songs), Kukmoonhak-sa(國文學史 : The History of Korean Literary), and Kukmoonhak-gaeseol(國文學槪說 : The Outline of Korean Literature). It could be said that Cho took a middle line politically. Min-jok-sa-kwan(民族史觀 : Nationalistic Interpretation of Literary History), a methodology of literary study created by him exactly corresponds to his political line. I think that it was presented as the third way above positivism and socialism, the two schools of Korean literature circles at that time. Finally, I maintained that Cho's study of Korean literature is a precious scholastic heritage we should succeed to, even in these days when criticism of nationalism is popular.