Review of Hodge theory and algebraic cycles

This chapter provides the background for the studies to be undertaken in succeeding chapters. It reviews Chow groups, correspondences and motives on the purely algebraic side, cycle classes, and (mixed) Hodge structures on the algebraic–topological side. Emphasis is placed on the notion of coniveau and the generalized Hodge conjecture which states the equality of geometric and Hodge coniveau. The chapter first follows the construction of Chow groups, the application of the localization exact sequence, the functoriality and motives of Chow groups, and cycle classes. It then turns to Hodge structures; pursuing related topics such as polarization, Hodge classes, standard conjectures, mixed Hodge structures, and Hodge coniveau.