| Revision as of 04:10, 2 February 2006 edit67.181.213.175 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 04:11, 2 February 2006 edit undo67.181.213.175 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| '''Didactic''' refers to ] or other types of ] that are instructional or informative. It does not |
'''Didactic''' refers to ] or other types of ] that are instructional or informative. It does not lmerely ]. In this sense the ] is didactic because it offers guidance in moral, religious, and ethical matters. It tells stories of the lives of people that followed ] teachings, and stories of people that decided to go against ] and the consequences that they faced. Another example is ]'s '']'', which offers a range of good criticism and advice. | ||
| The term "didactic" also refers to texts that are overburdened with instructive and factual information, sometimes to the detriment of a reader's enjoyment. The opposite of "didactic" is "non-didactic." If a writer is more concerned with artistic qualities and techniques than with conveying a message, then that piece of work is considered to be non-didactic, even if it is instructive. | The term "didactic" also refers to texts that are overburdened with instructive and factual information, sometimes to the detriment of a reader's enjoyment. The opposite of "didactic" is "non-didactic." If a writer is more concerned with artistic qualities and techniques than with conveying a message, then that piece of work is considered to be non-didactic, even if it is instructive. | ||
Revision as of 04:11, 2 February 2006
Didactic refers to literature or other types of art that are instructional or informative. It does not lmerely entertain. In this sense the Bible is didactic because it offers guidance in moral, religious, and ethical matters. It tells stories of the lives of people that followed Judeo-Christian teachings, and stories of people that decided to go against God and the consequences that they faced. Another example is Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism, which offers a range of good criticism and advice.
The term "didactic" also refers to texts that are overburdened with instructive and factual information, sometimes to the detriment of a reader's enjoyment. The opposite of "didactic" is "non-didactic." If a writer is more concerned with artistic qualities and techniques than with conveying a message, then that piece of work is considered to be non-didactic, even if it is instructive.
Some have suggested that lnearly all of the best poetry is didactic. Contrarily, Edgar Allan Poe called didacticism the worst of "heresies" in his essay The Poetic Principle.
Other examples of didactic literature include:
- Instructions for Parish Priests by John Mirk.
- Tracts by Tomas Stitny
- New England Primer
- Goody Two-Shoes
- The Coquette
- the Jataka Tales
- The poem Georgics by Virgil
 | This literature-related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |