Anagogic
A spiritual or religious interpretation of a text.
Apollonian
Rational and logical, as opposed to sensual, as associated with the Greek god Apollo, and contrasted with Dionysian.
Dionysian
Sensual, as opposed to rational, as associated with Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, and contrasted with Apollinian
Archetype
A symbol, usually an image, used in multiple works of literature.
Comedic
A form of fiction in which characters and society are integrated.
Dianoia
The meaning of a work of literature.
Encyclopedic
A thematic form in which ideas are expressed on behalf of a society.
Episodic
A thematic form in which ideas are expressed individualistically.
Ethos
The social world within a work of literature.
Ironic
A mode of fiction in which the characters are inferior to the reader.
Melos
The sound and rhythm of literature, like musical melody.
Mimesis
Imitation, as when a work of fiction seeks to represent real life.
Mode
The power of action of the protagonists in a story.
Myth
A collection of archetypes that go together.
Mythoi
Phases in a cycle of archetypal imagery, associated with the four seasons.
Mythos
The plot of a work of literature.
Naïve
Used to mean popular or basic.
Pharmakos
A synonym for “scapegoat.”
Thematic
Dealing primarily with ideas, instead of with plots.
Tragic
A form of fiction in which characters and society are alienated or at odds.
