Approaches and Methods of Periodization in Literary History

One of the most fundamental acts of historiography is to classify historical information in diachronic axis. The method of this classification or periodization shows the theoretical approach of the historian and determines the structure and the form of his history. Because of multiple criteria of analysis and various literary genres، periodization in literary history is more complicated than that of general history. We can distinguish two approaches in periodization of literary history، although these can be used together: extrinsic or social-cultural approach (based on criteria extrinsic to literature) and intrinsic or formalist approach (based on criteria intrinsic to literature). Then periodization in literary history can be formulated in different methods and base upon various criteria: chronological such as century، decade and year; organic patterns of evolution; great poets and writers; literary emblems and evaluations of every period; events، concepts and periods of general or political history; analogy of literary history and art or ideas history; approaches and ways of language; dominant literary norms. These methods actually are used together and everyone has adequacy in special kind of literary history.