| Term | Definition |
|---|
| universal symbol | Symbol recognized from our cultural heritage (water = life) |
| contextual symbol | derives its meaning from the context of the individual work |
| allegory | very close to symbolism, but it is more sustained than symbolism, and it has less emphasis on the literal meaning and more emphasis on the symbolic meaning. Furthermore, that symbolic meaning is usually more fixed, constituting a pre-existing system of ideas or principles. |
| fable | old, brief form which often relies on animals which possess human traits |
| parable | short, simple allegory with a religious bent |
| myth | traditional story that codifies the religious, philosophical, and cultural values of the civilization in which it was composed |
| fantasy | story that transcends all known reality |
| magical realism | magical or fantastic events are interwoven with ordinary situations to create striking effects which would not be available to fantasy or realism alone |
Combine with other sets
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