The concept of “neo” and the novels of G. Rodenbach: between romanticism and symbolism

Various forms of transition in literature and art of the turn of 19th and 20th centuries haven’t been explored enough. The use of the concept of “neo” allows to clarify the ideas of neo-romanticism that have developed in modern science. The article analyzes the novel heritage of the Belgian writer Rodenbach as a transitional phenomenon that brings together the writer's tetralogy with romanticism, Parnassus and symbolist French poetry; as well as phenomenon that organically includes Belgian literature in the European space of intertextuality. It is proved that addressing the problems of art, the artist-creator, the “beautiful soul”, connects Rodenbach with the traditions of Yen’s romanticism, at a new stage of development of literature generates a transformation of the myth of romanticism. The ideal of art is not subject to devaluation, but the artist, who lives in society, always fails. Indulging in earthly passion, coming into conflict with society and himself, he doesn’t keep faith in his beliefs. Real life creates illusions and self-deception, leading the character to disaster. Rodenbach uses a romantic model of mythologization, saturating it with symbolic allusions and signs, on the eve of modernism creates a neo-romantic novel synthesis.