A Multicultural Dictionary of Literary Terms

What is a corrido? What is the difference between a tanka, a choka and a renga? What does it mean when you’re doing the dozens? What is a Bildungsroman?
This dictionary of literary terms provides the student, scholar, librarian, or researcher with definitions, explanations, and models of the styles and forms of works of literature. Along with novel, tone, tragedy, and scansion are haiku, noh, griot, and other terms that derive from works long undervalued by the literary world. The examples come from a very broad field of authors—reflecting a spirit of inclusion of all people, races and literary traditions. The editors have elected to quote from literary examples that students are likely to have read and to which they most readily relate (for instance, Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was preferred over a work such as Paradise Lost, which fewer students have read and understand). Included is a listing of poets laureate to the Library of Congress, literature winners of the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes, Booker McConnell Prize winners, a time line of world literature and an index.

At the time of his death in 2006 Cliffs Notes editor Gary Carey lived in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Mary Ellen Snodgrass is an award-winning author of English and Latin textbooks and reference works for 35 years. She taught at Hickory High School and Lenoir Rhyne University in North Carolina for 23 years. Her writing focuses on women’s and world literature and history and general research topics, including epidemics, the history of money, clothing, food, and dance. She lives in Hickory, North Carolina.

Gary Carey and Mary Ellen Snodgrass
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 192
Bibliographic Info: appendices, index
Copyright Date: 2006 [1999]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2950-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0703-0
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      v

Preface      1

Introduction      3

THE DICTIONARY      7

Appendix A: Literary Prize Winners      161

Appendix B: Time Line of World Literature      166

Bibliography      177

Index      179

“a one-of-a-kind reference…highly recommended”—Library Journal; “informative…useful”—Reference Reviews; “[an] exceptional number of illustrative examples drawn from a broad chronological, geographical, and cultural spectrum and covering nonfiction works as well as novels, poetry, and other imaginative writings”—Booklist; “accolades go to Carey and Snodgrass for this unique and expansive approach…an ideal tool for teachers and librarians interested in making a literature/book connection with students”—VOYA; “the significant element of this book is…its explanation of terms. By reaching out to the cultures that have diversified curricula, its authors have created a useful supplement”—Rettig on Reference; “many terms from non–Western literatures…appropriate for high schools and lower-level college”—MultiCultural Review.