Begrippenlijst
Artistic merit Written works, considered to be of superior or lasting artistic merit
(=literature) -> A criteria for literature is to have artistic merit.
Canon 1) Of an author: all the works from the author
2) General: A list of literary works considered to be permanently
established as being of the highest quality.
Canon controversy The fact that before the 2nd half of the 20th century, no attention was paid to
female authors or post-colonist authors.
Canon revision from 2nd half of 20th century.
Eg: -Aphra Behn’s reputation was revived by Virginia Woolf in A
room of one’s own.
-The Brönte Sisters work wasn’t included in Leaviv’s The Great
Tradition.
-Equiano’s slave narrative is included in 1990 in canon.
-First Norton Anthology included no women writers
English literature <-> Literature(s) in English = global phenomenon (further than British Isles)
Story The succession of fictional events in chronological order
Text What the reader is presented with in the text. A chosen presentation by the
author.
Period labels Neutral connotation: e.g. 16th century poetry
Aesthetic label: romanticism, modernism
Historical label: Elizabethan,…
Victorianism Hypocrisy, prudence (pretending to be a big shot), censorship, intolerance,…,
self-scrutiny
Dramatic Realist/Victorian type of poem = a monologue addressed to reader in which
Monologue the speaker reveals his/her views and feelings
Narrative verse a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator
and characters as well; usually written in metred verse.
Aestheticism Art for art’s sake (1880’s and 90’s)
Verisimilitude Realist characteristic: writing in such a way that a story seems/appears true.
Novel of manners The novel of manners is a literary genre that deals with aspects of behavior,
language, customs and values, characteristic of a particular class of people
Realism Genre about every-day life, with ordinary characters,
writers are down-to-earth (included in society) e.g.: journalism.
Focus on protagonist who seeks place in society.
Comprehensive, recognizable social world.
Very detailed (verisimilitude)
Psychological Realistic stories, characterized by a high degree of psychological complexity
realism
Regionalism Fidelity to a geographical area (in speech, habits, manners,…)
+ Often shows the ‘harsh reality’ that former times were better.
Naturalism Intense realism, broader: lower class, extreme setting, major crisis (drama:
often, the characters are ‘destroyed’), pessimistic tone, teaching (<->
entertaining realism)
Magical realism Realism which adds magical elements (myths, dreams, fantasy, the
supernatural…)
Surrealism Furthest removed from realism
Points of view Editorial omniscience = omniscient narrator who stands above fictional world.
Does not hide and addresses the reader.
Artistic merit Written works, considered to be of superior or lasting artistic merit
(=literature) -> A criteria for literature is to have artistic merit.
Canon 1) Of an author: all the works from the author
2) General: A list of literary works considered to be permanently
established as being of the highest quality.
Canon controversy The fact that before the 2nd half of the 20th century, no attention was paid to
female authors or post-colonist authors.
Canon revision from 2nd half of 20th century.
Eg: -Aphra Behn’s reputation was revived by Virginia Woolf in A
room of one’s own.
-The Brönte Sisters work wasn’t included in Leaviv’s The Great
Tradition.
-Equiano’s slave narrative is included in 1990 in canon.
-First Norton Anthology included no women writers
English literature <-> Literature(s) in English = global phenomenon (further than British Isles)
Story The succession of fictional events in chronological order
Text What the reader is presented with in the text. A chosen presentation by the
author.
Period labels Neutral connotation: e.g. 16th century poetry
Aesthetic label: romanticism, modernism
Historical label: Elizabethan,…
Victorianism Hypocrisy, prudence (pretending to be a big shot), censorship, intolerance,…,
self-scrutiny
Dramatic Realist/Victorian type of poem = a monologue addressed to reader in which
Monologue the speaker reveals his/her views and feelings
Narrative verse a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator
and characters as well; usually written in metred verse.
Aestheticism Art for art’s sake (1880’s and 90’s)
Verisimilitude Realist characteristic: writing in such a way that a story seems/appears true.
Novel of manners The novel of manners is a literary genre that deals with aspects of behavior,
language, customs and values, characteristic of a particular class of people
Realism Genre about every-day life, with ordinary characters,
writers are down-to-earth (included in society) e.g.: journalism.
Focus on protagonist who seeks place in society.
Comprehensive, recognizable social world.
Very detailed (verisimilitude)
Psychological Realistic stories, characterized by a high degree of psychological complexity
realism
Regionalism Fidelity to a geographical area (in speech, habits, manners,…)
+ Often shows the ‘harsh reality’ that former times were better.
Naturalism Intense realism, broader: lower class, extreme setting, major crisis (drama:
often, the characters are ‘destroyed’), pessimistic tone, teaching (<->
entertaining realism)
Magical realism Realism which adds magical elements (myths, dreams, fantasy, the
supernatural…)
Surrealism Furthest removed from realism
Points of view Editorial omniscience = omniscient narrator who stands above fictional world.
Does not hide and addresses the reader.
