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Discourse (Literary Term)

Discourse in literature means the way language is used to express ideas, beliefs, and power in writing or speech. It is more than just words or grammar—it is about how people communicate and shape meaning in society. Discourse can come from characters, narrators, or writers, and it often reflects social, political, or cultural ideas. Main Ideas of Discourse Language and Power – Discourse often shows who has power in a society and how that power is expressed through language. For example, legal discourse or religious discourse can control how people think and act. Different Types – There are many types of discourse: political, religious, scientific, literary, and more. Each type uses a special way of speaking or writing that fits its purpose. Shaping Ideas – Discourse helps shape how people understand the world. The same event can be described in different ways depending on the discourse being used. Narrative Voice – In literature, discourse also refers to the voice or styl...

Dissociation of Sensibility

Dissociation of sensibility is a literary concept introduced by the poet and critic T. S. Eliot . He used this term to describe a historical change in English poetry, where feeling and thought became separated. Eliot believed that earlier poets were able to blend deep emotion and clear thinking in their poetry, but later poets lost this unity. Main Ideas of Dissociation of Sensibility Unity of Thought and Feeling – Eliot believed that in the work of poets like John Donne and other Metaphysical poets , emotion and intellect were combined naturally. These poets could express complex ideas through strong, sincere emotions. Separation Over Time – After the 17th century, Eliot argued, English poetry began to lose this balance. Thought and feeling became separate. Poets could no longer feel their ideas deeply or think through their emotions clearly. Resulting Weakness – This split led to poetry that was either too intellectual and dry, or too emotional without deep thought. Eliot b...

Différance

Différance is a complex term introduced by the French philosopher Jacques Derrida . It is a key idea in deconstruction , which is a method of literary criticism. The word "différance" looks like the French word "différence" (which means " difference "), but Derrida changed one letter to show that this new term means more than just being different. Main Ideas of Différance Difference in Meaning – According to Derrida, words do not have fixed meanings. A word gets its meaning by being different from other words. For example, the word "cat" means what it does because it is not "bat" or "mat." Delay of Meaning – A word also gets its meaning by pointing to other words. Because of this, the full meaning is always delayed or postponed. We never arrive at a final, complete meaning. Spoken vs. Written – Derrida argued that writing is just as important as speech. He used différance to show how both spoken and written words c...