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:

1. 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.
2. Some words used in literature are inherently simple in concept and require little explanation—for 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

—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. Visit Electricka's Resource Shelf: click here.