21st Century and Asian Literature

Literature representing the best qualities of national literatures, accessible to many cultures.

Literature specific to a particular country or time period.

Writers whose work is limited to a specific region or nation.

Popular themes in 21st-century global literature include vampires, sorcery, space, and science fiction.

A novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry about love, inner beauty, and friendship.

Literature from various Asian countries, diverse in style and reflecting cultural values.

A calligraphic style of writing, often used in official documents and records.

A theme in literature that many different audiences can relate to or understand.

A type of Chinese poetry with eight lines, each containing five or seven syllables and following specific tonal patterns. It flourished during the Tang dynasty (618-907).

A four-line Chinese poem with each line containing five or seven words. It's a type of 'jintishi' (modern form poetry).

A short Japanese poem containing three lines with a specific structure: 5-7-5 syllables. It doesn't rhyme.

A Japanese poem consisting of five lines with a syllable count of 5-7-5-7-7.

A type of Japanese 'waka' poem with alternating lines of five and seven syllables, culminating in an extra line of seven syllables. Its length is not fixed.

Collaborative Japanese poetry where alternating stanzas (ku) of different lengths are written by different people, forming a chain of haiku and couplets.

An Indian epic poem written in Sanskrit, considered the longest poem in history with around 100,000 couplets. Hindus regard it as a text about drama and history.

A shorter Indian epic poem than the 'Mahabharata', with around 2400 couplets. Family plays a significant role in Indian literature and drama.

Figurative phrases or compound words used indirectly to name persons, places, or things in Old English poetry.

The longest and oldest known epic poem in Old English, consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It is renowned for its use of Kennings and explores themes of heroism and loyalty.

The period of English history marked by the use of Old English language, Anglo-Saxon culture, and the emergence of prominent works like 'Beowulf'.

The arrival of the Normans in 1066 significantly influenced the English language, introducing French vocabulary and grammar, ultimately transitioning to Middle English.

The English language spoken in England and Wales from around 1100 to 1500, representing a transitional phase from Old English to Modern English.

Two famous works of Indian literature and theater considered epic family stories, revolving around conflict, land, dharma, and profound sorrow.

A collection of Indian animal fables, originally written in Sanskrit, blending prose and verse. It is known for its humorous stories and wise advice.

Key features of Old English include extensive use of case endings, a mixture of pagan and Christian beliefs, and early forms of the English language.

Languages spoken by indigenous African communities, serving as carriers of cultural knowledge and oral traditions.

African literature encompasses diverse forms like poetry, drama, novels, and short stories, highlighting unique narratives and themes.

A movement that celebrated and affirmed Black identity and cultural values, challenging colonial ideologies and promoting African pride.

A journal dedicated to showcasing African creativity and fostering dialogue about African culture and identity.

Stories, poems, songs, and other artistic forms passed down through generations through spoken word, preserving cultural traditions.

Traditional stories that explain natural phenomena, societal structures, and the origins of the world, often featuring supernatural beings and heroic figures.

Grand narratives that celebrate heroes and historical events, often performed on special occasions by skilled storytellers.

An English writer considered the father of English literature, known for his work The Canterbury Tales

A collection of stories in Middle English, written by Geoffrey Chaucer, featuring a diverse group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury.

A long narrative poem usually about a hero and their heroic deeds, often featuring supernatural elements and a grand scale.

A long prose narrative usually about fictional characters and events, told in a chronological order.

A literary style that blends fantasy and magic into everyday life, often exploring social and cultural themes.

A diverse body of literature written in Spanish, Portuguese, and indigenous languages, exploring themes of colonialism, identity, and social realities.

A term for individuals born in Latin America with European ancestry, reflecting the colonial context.

A term used for the main leaders of Latin American independence movements, who fought for freedom from colonial rule.

Epithets celebrating an object's qualities and achievements.

Short, witty sayings offering advice or persuasion, often using metaphors.

Written works like novels, plays, and poems from the 1950s-60s, often reflecting personal experiences and historical events.

African authors writing in European languages, often expressing rebellion against colonial rule.

Getting a sense of the text's content and organization before reading.

Considering the time period and place where the text was created.

Examining your personal responses and feelings towards the text.

Identifying the main ideas and condensing them into a brief overview.