Analyzing Literary Terminologies and Their Significance

The assignment delves into various critical literary terms crucial for understanding literature. Allegory is examined as a metaphorical device used to convey hidden meanings through symbolic figures and actions. Epic narratives are discussed in terms of their length, style, and legendary heroes. Satire's role in exposing societal flaws through ridicule for reform is analyzed. Symbols' layered meanings in conveying abstract concepts are explored. The novel as an extensive prose narrative form originated from early European literature is detailed. Setting encompasses the environment, time, and place within a story that shapes its context. Short stories' concise narratives and their historical evolution are examined. Modernism's roots in late 19th to early 20th-century societal changes are investigated. The Renaissance period highlights humanism as an intellectual movement. Romanticism emphasizes emotion, individualism, and nature glorification. Pastoral verse depicts idealized shepherd lives in Arcadia, while soliloquy offers insights into characters' inner thoughts through self-dialogue.

Running head: LITERARY TERMS
Literary Terms
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1LITERARY TERMS
Allegory: An allegory acts as a metaphor within which a character or an event can be used
for delivering a broad message regarding real-world issues. It can help in the illustration of
complex ideas along with concepts1. It is used in order to convey hidden meaning with the
help of symbolic figures and actions.
Epic: An epic refers to a long book or poem the story of which extends throughout a large
course of time and it tells about events of great importance. It is delivered in an elevated style
and it recounts the deeds pertaining to a legendary hero.
Satire: Satire refers to a genre pertaining to literature within which the vices and follies of
individuals are held up for the purpose of ridiculing. Its purpose is to shame the individuals or
the society so that it can lead to positive changes in their behaviour.
Symbol: A symbol is indicative of a literary device that has different layers of meaning. It is
concealed at the first instance and it helps in representing different aspects and concepts.
Novel: A novel refers to a lengthy work pertaining to narrative fiction which is written in the
prose form. It originated in classical Greece and Rome and Cervantes is considered to be the
first European novelist within the modern era2.
Setting: Setting refers to the environment within which an event unfolds. The different
aspects pertaining to setting are that of social conditions, geographical locations, timing and
historical time. The three major components in relation to setting are that of social
environment, time along with place.
1 Baldick, Chris. The Oxford dictionary of literary terms. OUP Oxford, 2015.
2 Barry, Peter. Beginning theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory. Oxford University Press, 2017.

2LITERARY TERMS
Short Story: Short story is a brief work pertaining to fiction which is generally written in the
prose form. The anecdotes, fairy tales along with parables have helped in the shaping of the
short story. The short stories generally range from that of 1600-20,000 words.
Modernism: Modernism refers to the philosophical movement that arose on account of the
transformations taking place in the Western society in the late 19th and in the early 20th
century. Industrial society along with growth of the cities was responsible for the
development of Modernism3.
Renaissance: Renaissance refers to a period within the European history that extended from
the 14th to the 17th century. Intellectual basis pertaining to Renaissance was provided by the
concept of humanism.
Romanticism: Romanticism refers to a literary and intellectual movement which had its
origins in Europe. This era emphasized on emotion, individualism and glorified the past4.
Romanticism focussed on the emotions of the narrator and it celebrated nature and beauty.
Pastoral: Pastoral verse is written in Theocritus tradition and it dealt with idealized account
in relation to the shepherds. It talked about their love and their virtuous lives within Arcadia
which was a mountainous region in Greece.
Soliloquy: A soliloquy refers to a device which is made use of in drama within which a
character indulges in speaking to oneself. He relates his thoughts along with feelings and it
provides the audience with the opportunity to understand about the inner motives and
thoughts of the speaker.
3 Matthews, Peter Hugoe. The concise Oxford dictionary of linguistics. Oxford University Press, 2014.
4 Bateson, Frederick Wilse. A guide to English literature. Routledge, 2017.

3LITERARY TERMS

4LITERARY TERMS
References:
Baldick, Chris. The Oxford dictionary of literary terms. OUP Oxford, 2015.
Barry, Peter. Beginning theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory. Oxford
University Press, 2017.
Bateson, Frederick Wilse. A guide to English literature. Routledge, 2017.
Matthews, Peter Hugoe. The concise Oxford dictionary of linguistics. Oxford University
Press, 2014.