Literature as Sensibility to the Other: Dante in Modern Korean Literature

Abstract

This chapter starts from the supposition that a particular non-Western perspective is indispensable for inquiring into Dante’s universality. The non-Western perspective helps to decentralize the Western context which has historically developed around Dante, and at the same time to plug him into the Others’ contexts. “Modern Korean literature” is a problematic terminology and time-space within which the problem of Dante’s universality might become more confused. But this confusion rather seems to be a positive aspect and a step toward solving the problem of reconstructing Dante’s universality. Further, the space of modern Korean literature, built up with its unique experience and consideration of modern Western literature, might provide a proper condition for solving the problem.