Literature

Literature

Of or pertaining to the art of writing in any form or style, most especially published works.

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Literature > General literature

carpe diem

Literature; General literature

The Latin phrase meaning "seize the day." This is a very common literary theme, especially in lyric poetry, which emphasizes that life is short, time is fleeting, and that one ...

canon

Literature; General literature

Those works generally considered by scholars, critics, and teachers to be the most important to read and study, which collectively constitute the "masterpieces" of literature. ...

caesura

Literature; General literature

A pause within a line of poetry that contributes to the rhythm of the line. A caesura can occur anywhere within a line and need not be indicated by punctuation. In scanning a ...

cacophony

Literature; General literature

Language that is discordant and difficult to pronounce, such as this line from John Updike’s "Player Piano": "never my numb plunker fumbles." Cacophony ("bad sound") may be ...

blank verse

Literature; General literature

Unrhymed iambic pentameter. Blank verse is the English verse form closest to the natural rhythms of English speech and therefore is the most common pattern found in traditional ...

biographical criticism

Literature; General literature

An approach to literature which suggests that knowledge of the author’s life experiences can aid in the understanding of his or her work. While biographical information can ...

flashback

Literature; General literature

A narrated scene that marks a break in the narrative in order to inform the reader or audience member about events that took place before the opening scene of a work. See also ...