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about compiling this literary glossary
Constructing a glossary that is handy means keeping definitions
and examples short.
Fortunately, in most cases little or nothing is lost when definitions of
literary terms are concise. However, shortening the definitions of some literary terms
can compromise understanding and promote misunderstanding, or confusion. The Muse
Of Literature apologizes should any of these negatives arise.
Some literary terms suffer
when treated concisely while others may not:
- Some terms are likely to be familiar to a glossary user because they
have been encountered before in other arts. For example, the word
protagonist applies to drama as well as to opera. For this kind of
term, only its relationship to literature need be addressed.
- Some words used in literature are inherently simple in concept and require little
explanationfor example, the word protagonist can be defined as
the leading character, hero, or
heroine of a drama or other literary work. To convey a complete
understanding of protagonist requires only a few words.
- Some words convey inherently complex ideas that, to a first
approximation, can be reduced to a simple and useful summary that is adequate for many purposes.
For example, meter
is a complex term that can be simply defined as Poetic measure;
arrangement of words in regularly measured, patterned, or rhythmic lines
or verses. A longer but still brief definition:
A
particular form of such arrangement, depending on either the kind or the
number of feet constituting the verse or both rhythmic kind and number
of feet (usually used in combination): pentameter; dactylic meter;
iambic trimeter.
- Inherently complex literary terms may have to be
explained at length if a complete understanding is
to be conveyed. For example, in the case of meter, a full definition could fill pages.
A longer explanation might treat the terms feet, verse, pentameter,
dactylic meter, iambic pentameter,
trimeter, and a number of other terms.
- Some inherently complex words are best treated in
essay or book form. For example, one renowned encyclopedia consumes over
four pages of small print defining the word epic. The same work
consumes more than fifteen pages defining the term English poetry.
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tip learn more about literary terms
Visitors wanting to learn more about a term that
appears in the Glossary or wanting an expert opinion
about its meaning should consult Electricka's
Resource Shelf or appropriate references listed in the ETAF Recommends sections on pages
at this web site.
Look for names of teachers, text books, literary reference books or
scholarly works, dictionaries and encyclopedias, musical encyclopedias,
web sites specializing in literary terminology, or
other appropriate resources.
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