Literary Dictionary

A literary dictionary can encompass literary terms, literary and critical theory terms, linguistics and more. Using the right dictionary can be a major help to those who enjoy literature and to students who are writing about literature.

Most literary dictionaries focus on terms used to describe literature. Not all literary dictionaries have the same features:

• Some cover a broad range of literature topics
• Some focus on specific genres such as poetry or novels
• Some focus on specific disciplines such as literary criticism
• Some concentrate on defining terminology

Regardless of the focus of a particular dictionary, a literary dictionary is designed to help readers precise terms to understand the finer points of literature.

Contents of a Literary Dictionary

Within most general literary dictionaries, readers will experience a variety of resources. For example:

• If looking under the letter “A” in a literary dictionary, for example, one may encounter “Abolitionist Literature,” which describes literature written prior to the Civil War to argue against slavery. Abolitionists published pamphlets, essays, and fiction portraying the horrors of slavery and using persuasive arguments to try to win more Americans over to the anti-slavery movement.

• Literary dictionaries describe technical aspects of poetry or prose. Many forms of poetry rely upon strict rules, and literary dictionaries define such rules. Haiku, for example, is a specialized form of Japanese poetry. There are numerous rules to forming correct Haiku. English teachers often assign Haiku to students, since Haiku are short and easy to understand.
• Literary dictionaries are great reference points for both teachers and students. Teachers may use a literary dictionary to check the proper definition of Haiku, the number of lines, syllables, and subject matter appropriate for this form of poetry. Students may do the same.

• Literary dictionaries also define linguistic terms. Linguistics is the study of language. While not to be confused with a grammar resource, literary dictionaries explain the mysteries of strong and weak verbs, noun declensions, and many other terms.

• Literary dictionaries may encompass literary criticism terminology. Literary criticism uses its own specific set of terms to analyze and compare works of literature.

Finding a Literary Dictionary

Purchase a literary dictionaries in print or visit one of the many online literary dictionaries. Some online sources are free, while others require an access or subscription fee.

Many higher education English departments provide college students with online literary dictionaries to help them through their courses. Universities often purchase subscriptions to large electronic literary dictionaries and other dictionaries for English language and literature students and teachers.

Students should check with their school library to understand online access resources and privileges. Teachers may wish to contact their alma mater to see if alumni have online access to school libraries. Many large universities such as New York University, Columbia University, Teachers College and others provide alumni access. State university systems in many parts of the country also offer access online to current and former students. Local universities may allow residents of the town or country to access library resources in person.

Online Literary Dictionary Resources

• Dr. Kip Wheeler at Carson-Newman College has created a robust online literary dictionary for students that contains all of the types of literary information previously described. It’s easily navigated and contains numerous examples, making it easy for students to understand basic literary concepts.
• DePaul University provides an online literary dictionary with the most common terms listed straight through alphabetically. The definitions in their online literary dictionary link over to detailed articles, providing a robust resource for students who need more information on a particular literary term.
• For students focusing on literary criticism, Rutgers University offers a free online literary dictionary focusing on criticism terminology. Additional links point to literary dictionary sites for linguistic terms, theory and more.
• Joel Summer Littaeur of Bell High School provides a free literary dictionary written for high school students. His dictionary encompasses typical terms encountered by students in grades 9 through12.
• Literary dictionaries may also include symbols. Michael Ferber has written a fascinating e-book called "A Dictionary of Literary Symbols." Download using Adobe Acrobat. This is not a free book, but the low price of $33.60 may make it affordable, particularly for serious literary students who need a quick reference guide while working on course assignments.
• While not technically a dictionary, the Literary Encyclopedia is subscription-based treasure trove of literary information. Check first with the local public library or a college or university library to see if they already subscribe. Subscribers pay only $18.95 per year for unlimited online access. The website promises excellent access to the canonical literature of England, France, Germany, Spain and other countries.

A literary dictionary can encompass more than just literary terms. Novels, short stories, essays and persuasive writing, and poetry are just some of the genres covered by basic literary dictionaries.