Poema 2

Abstract

Praxeological approaches are now well established within literary studies. Yet it has only been more recently that the potential they offer in terms of genre theory has become a topic of discussion (see, for example, Gencarelli 2024, Gittel 221, Hillebrandt 2024, as well as Gittel in this volume). Genuine praxeological approaches are still barely represented within the genre theory of poetry, even though, in substance, individual proposals of lyrical theory show an interest in praxeological issues. This volume aims to provide suggestions on how to make use of corresponding approaches, put them into a broader praxeological perspective and sound out their potential in relation to lyrical theory.In literary studies, there has been a whole host of attempts to define lyric poetry, which can be roughly divided into language theory, form theory, pact theory, system theory, functional-historical and narratological approaches. Yet these, and even the more recent articles on lyrical theory, only offer limited points of reference for a praxeological perspective of the poetry genre; connections to praxeology can only be drawn from the pact theory (Fischer 2007, Rodriguez 2003 and functional-historical approaches (Eibl 2013, Schlaffer 2012). These articles cannot, however, be understood as praxeological in the meaning of deliberate analyses of practices. They focus on explaining typical lyrical devices in terms of how they are used or at least to relate them to these uses. But they do not look at poetry as a social practice.In an article fundamental to the praxeology of poetry, which we are printing again here, Peter Lamarque 2015 proposed a praxeological modelling of poetry:Poetry is constituted by a practice, which is grounded in convention-governed expectations among poets and readers. To write a poem is to engage the practice and invite (one hopes also reward) certain kinds of interests and responses among readers; to read a poem ›poetically‹, seeking its poetic value, is to deploy relevant interests and responses thereby making appropriate demands and one hopes achieving valued experience in offer. (Lamarque 2015, 33) Lamarque proposes a model of poetry as a social practice, which is focused on questions of definition and is based historically on the example of modern poetry. His considerations,