The Britannica Guide to Literary Elements

The advent of the written word and the attendant transformation of language and literature sparked the development of new forms of expression and copious literary devices. Such instruments of poetry and prose can finesse turns of phrase, render the foreign familiar, or simply texture plot lines. The literary terms surveyed in these fascinating volumes describe the content, structure, and characteristics of some of the world's most celebrated bodies of verse and drama, fiction and nonfiction. Sidebars spotlight some of the modern and traditional writers and works that have enriched discourse and communication.
• Examples drawn directly from classic works illustrate various terms and concepts
• Terms encompass writing from various genres, cultures, and time periods
• Informative sidebars profile notable writers and works