The essay starts with a short presentation of the critical 'school', its representatives and main principles. The article concentrates on three essays by Albert Beguin, Jean-Pierre Richard and Georges Poulet. The critics situate Hugo's work in a large context: from primitive myths to modern poetry and philosophy. They analyze two texts in particular, 'Dieu' and 'La Fin de Satan', and point out the principle of polarity, the prevailing image of chaos and some other motives like metamorphosis, confusion or fog. They compare Hugo's work not only to the myths but also to the dream, and try to sketch his unique concept of the status of the poet, which is similar to God and to the whole universe.
