Ten Common Literary Terms: Renaissance, Reformation, Wordsworthian definition of poetry ,Poetic justice, Epic, Mock epic, Sonnet, Ode, Elegy, Ballad

1. Renaissance:

Renaissance means revival or rebirth of Greek learning, art, literature and culture of the riddle age in Europe  in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries. These movements began in Italy and eventually expanded into Germany, France, England, and other parts of Europe. It marked a transition from the medieval era to the modern age, emphasizing humanism, individualism, and the revival of classical knowledge and artistic forms. The Renaissance had a profound impact on literature, inspiring new forms and ideas that celebrated human potential and explored human experiences. In England it came through Italy and flourished in the Elizabethan Age in the works of Shakespeare, Spenser, Marlowe and Ben Jonson etc . 

Example: One prominent literary figure during the Renaissance was William Shakespeare, whose works such as "Hamlet" and "Romeo and Juliet" exemplify the era's exploration of complex human emotions and the human condition.

2. Reformation:

Reformation was a religious revolution in 16th-century  in the Christian church, which ended the ecclesiastical supremacy of the Pope in Western Christendom and resulted in the establishment of the Protestant churches. It was started by Martin Luther is the fifteenth century. It protested against the practices of the Roman Catholic Church. It advocated complete faith in the Bible and in one’s own soul for salvation. This period witnessed significant changes in religious, social, and political structures, influencing literature and fostering the development of religious and philosophical ideas.

Example: John Milton's epic poem "Paradise Lost" reflects the religious and theological turmoil of the Reformation era, exploring themes of sin, redemption, and free will.

3. Wordsworthian definition of poetry

Poetry is a criticism of life under the laws of poetric truth and poetic beauty. Poetry is a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings, taking its origin from emotions recollected in tranquility. Wordsworth emphasized the importance of nature, individual experience, and the expression of profound emotions in poetry, rejecting artificiality and formal constraints.

Example: Wordsworth's poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" (also known as "Daffodils") exemplifies his definition of poetry. The poem evokes a sense of wonder and awe in nature, expressing the poet's emotional response to a field of daffodils.

4. Poetic justice

The term poetic justice was coined by Thomas Rhymer. It means exact reward or punishment or a fate that seems a fitting punishment or, less often, a fitting reward given to a character account for  his good or bad deeds. This exactness of justice is possible only in the world of poetry. Liberally, Poetic justice also refers to the concept in literature that suggests morally appropriate outcomes for characters based on their actions. It involves rewarding virtue and punishing vice or wrongdoing, often resulting in a satisfying resolution that aligns with the audience's sense of fairness. Poetic justice serves to uphold moral order and create a sense of closure in literary works.

Example: In Charles Dickens' novel "Great Expectations," the character of Miss Havisham, who manipulates and mistreats others, eventually meets a tragic end. Her downfall and isolation can be seen as an example of poetic justice, as her actions are met with appropriate consequences.

5. Epic

The epic is the greatest and most sublime form of poetry. The epic is a long poem, divided into several books, celebrating the life, heroic deeds and achievements of a national hero, whether historical or legendary.  Epics often depict grandiose themes, such as heroism, honor, and the struggle between good and evil. They typically incorporate elements of mythology, supernatural beings, and epic battles. Epics aim to inspire and entertain while conveying cultural and moral values. It might be of different types: Folk epics, Literary, Mock epic.  

Example: Homer's "The Iliad" is an epic poem that recounts the events of the Trojan War. It portrays the heroism of warriors like Achilles and Hector, explores the complexities of human emotions, and addresses themes of honor, fate, and the consequences of war.

6. Mock epic

Mock epic is a parody of real epic in a light non-serious mood. It satirizes contemporary ideas or conditions in a form and style burlesquing the serious epic. It is written on which a grab of classical conventions of a real epic is overlaid.  It employs lofty language and epic elements to depict trivial or mundane subjects, often to create humorous or ironic effects. Mock epics expose the absurdity of grandiose themes and highlight the contrast between the heroic and the ordinary.

Example: Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock" is a mock epic that satirizes the trivial incident of a young woman having a lock of her hair cut off. Pope treats the event with exaggerated grandeur, employing epic devices and language to highlight the humorous nature of the situation.

7. Sonnet

The term sonnet is derived from the Italian Sonnet Which means a little sound. It is a musical poem of 14 lines written in Iambic Pentameter and linked by an intricate rhyme scheme.
    sonnet variant:

1.     Petrarchan/ Italian:It consists of an octave(a b b a, a b b a,) and a sestet, or six-line stanza (c d e c d e, or c d c d c d, or c d e d c). 
2.      English, or Shakespearean: Its rhyme scheme is a b a b, c d c d, e f e f, g g.

Example: Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, often referred to as "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" is a beloved example of a sonnet. It praises the beauty of a beloved and explores the eternal nature of love through vivid imagery and metaphors.

8. Ode

Ode is a long lyrical poem, serious in subject, elevated in style and elaborated in its staanzaic structure. It is in the form of an address to the object or the person about whom it is written. They exhibit a formal structure, elaborate language, and a heightened emotional tone. Odes are characterized by their elevated style and the poet's profound engagement with the subject matter.

Example: John Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" is a renowned ode that reflects the poet's contemplation on the nature of life, mortality, and the power of art. The poem captures the beauty and transcendence of the nightingale's song and explores the themes of escapism and the fleeting nature of happiness.

9. Elegy

An elegy is essentially a poem of mourning or lamentation on the death of some particular person. In the wider sense it may also be a poem of mourning on the mortality and vanity of human life in general. Simply, a Elegies often express sorrow and pay tribute to the deceased, but they can also evoke broader reflections on the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death.

Example: "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray is a well-known elegy that reflects on the lives and deaths of ordinary people buried in a rural churchyard. The poem contemplates the brevity of life, the universality of death, and the significance of anonymous individuals.

10.Ballad

The word Ballad literally means a dance song. Troupes of wondering singers used to sing then from village to village they generally song of the brave deeds and heroic exploits of historical or legendry heroes and knights. Ballads typically have a simple and rhythmic structure, and they often employ repetition and refrain. They have been passed down through oral tradition and are known for their ability to capture emotions and convey tales of love, tragedy, and heroism.

Example: "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a well-known ballad that recounts the supernatural journey of a mariner and his crew. The poem explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the consequences of human actions.

  Ardhendu De