Glossary of Literary Terms 文学术语词汇表

the work of most of the important writers to appear since the 1930s\( Source : Benet's, 988-989). Example: The Butcher Boy by Patrick McCabe. symbol

\symbol is something that is itself and also stands for something else?In a literary sense a symbol combines a literal and sensuous quality with an abstract or suggestive aspect?Literary symbols are of two broad types: One includes those embodying universal suggestions of meaning, as flowing water suggests time and eternity, a voyage suggests life. Such symbols are used widely (and sometimes unconsciously) in literature. The other type of symbol acquires its suggestiveness not from qualities inherent in itself but from the way in which it is used in a given work. Thus, in Moby-Dick the voyage, the land the ocean are objects pregnant with meanings that seem almost independent of Melville's use of them in his story; on the other hand, the white whale is invested with meaning-and differing meanings for different crew members-through the handling of materials in the novel\http://www.notesinthemargin.org/glossary.html> : Harmon & Holman, 507).

Top -T- tone

\?the attitudes toward the subject and toward the audience implied in a literary work. Tone may be formal, informal, intimate, solemn, sombre, playful, serious, ironic, condescending, or many another possible attitude\http://www.notesinthemargin.org/glossary.html> : Harmon & Holman, 520).

Top -U- unity

\which all its parts are related so that the work is an organic whole. A work with unity is cohesive in its parts, complete, self-contained, and

integrated?A work may?be unified by form, intent, theme, symbolism-in fact, by any means that can so integrate and organize its elements that they have a necessary relation to one another and an essential relation to the whole of which they are parts\

: Harmon & Holman, 533-534). Top -XYZ-

YA Young adult

[top] Sources

Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia, 4th ed., ed. Bruce Murphy (NY: HarperCollins, 1996).

DeAndrea, William L. Encyclopedia Mysteriosa: A Comprehensive Guide to the Art of Detection in Print, Film, Radio, and Television (NY: Prentice Hall, 1994).

Harmon, William and C. Hugh Holman, A Handbook to Literature, 7th ed. (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall., 1996).

The New York Public Library Literature Companion [abbreviated NYPL], ed. Anne Skillion (N.Y.: Free Press, 2001). [top]