#satirical epigram

[lionofchaeronea]

Medicine for a Miser

Anthologia Palatina XI.165 = Lucillius (Neronian period) When his stomach’s upset, the miser Criton       Doesn’t take a whiff Of healing mint, but gets a bronze coin       And has a refreshing sniff.

Οὐ γλήχωνι Κρίτων ὁ φιλάργυρος, ἀλλὰ διχάλκῳ       αὑτὸν ἀποσφραίνει, θλιβομένου στομάχου.

The Miser, style of Jan Massys, 1570s or 1580s

[blueheartbooks]

"The Duality of Beauty and Decay: Oscar Wilde's Masterpiece, The Picture of Dorian Gray"

Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" unfolds as a decadent tapestry woven with the threads of beauty, morality, and the consequences of unchecked hedonism. Published in 1890, this novel is a timeless exploration of the corrupting influence of aestheticism and the intricate dance between art and morality. The title alone evokes a sense of mystery and allure, foreshadowing the dark and enigmatic journey that readers are about to embark upon.

At the heart of the narrative is the titular character, Dorian Gray, a young and exceptionally handsome man whose portrait, painted by the talented artist Basil Hallward, captures the essence of his youth and beauty. Dorian becomes infatuated with the idea of eternal youth and makes a Faustian pact—his portrait will age and bear the consequences of his immoral actions, while he remains untouched by the ravages of time.

The novel explores the concept of aestheticism, a philosophy championed by Wilde himself, which emphasizes the pursuit of beauty and the rejection of conventional morality. Dorian Gray, initially an emblem of aesthetic perfection, descends into a life of decadence, indulging in every pleasure the world has to offer without regard for the ethical ramifications. Wilde's razor-sharp wit and satirical commentary on the superficiality of society are evident as Dorian navigates the underbelly of Victorian London.

Wilde's prose is a marvel, a poetic symphony that captures the essence of his aesthetic philosophy. The novel is replete with epigrams and witticisms that showcase Wilde's keen observation of human behavior and society's obsession with appearances. The writing is both ornate and cutting, creating a delightful tension that mirrors the duality inherent in the narrative.

The characters surrounding Dorian Gray add depth to the exploration of morality and corruption. Lord Henry Wotton, a charismatic and cynical aristocrat, serves as the catalyst for Dorian's moral descent. His aphorisms and influence on Dorian encapsulate the allure of a life unfettered by societal norms. Basil Hallward, the artist who initially captures Dorian's beauty, becomes a symbol of the internal struggle between art and morality.

The narrative is enriched by the symbolic significance of the portrait itself. As Dorian's sins accumulate, the portrait undergoes a grotesque transformation, reflecting the moral decay hidden beneath the veneer of youth and beauty. The portrait becomes a haunting reminder of the consequences of a life lived without moral restraint, a visual representation of the soul's degradation.

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" is not merely a cautionary tale but a profound exploration of the human condition. Wilde challenges the superficiality of societal values, prompting readers to confront the inherent tension between aesthetic pursuits and ethical responsibilities. The novel's themes remain relevant, inviting contemporary readers to reflect on the price of unchecked desire and the pursuit of an idealized, hedonistic existence.

In conclusion, Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" stands as a literary masterpiece that transcends its Victorian origins. The novel's exploration of beauty, morality, and the consequences of decadence remains as relevant today as it was over a century ago. Wilde's unparalleled wit, coupled with the timeless relevance of the novel's themes, solidify its place in the literary canon as a work that continues to provoke thought and captivate readers with its exploration of the eternal struggle between the allure of beauty and the inevitability of moral decay.

Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is available in Amazon in paperback 11.99$ and hardcover 19.99$ editions.

Number of pages: 188

Language: English

Rating: 10/10                                           

Link of the book!

Review By: King's Cat

[blueheartbookclub]

"The Duality of Beauty and Decay: Oscar Wilde's Masterpiece, The Picture of Dorian Gray"

Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" unfolds as a decadent tapestry woven with the threads of beauty, morality, and the consequences of unchecked hedonism. Published in 1890, this novel is a timeless exploration of the corrupting influence of aestheticism and the intricate dance between art and morality. The title alone evokes a sense of mystery and allure, foreshadowing the dark and enigmatic journey that readers are about to embark upon.

At the heart of the narrative is the titular character, Dorian Gray, a young and exceptionally handsome man whose portrait, painted by the talented artist Basil Hallward, captures the essence of his youth and beauty. Dorian becomes infatuated with the idea of eternal youth and makes a Faustian pact—his portrait will age and bear the consequences of his immoral actions, while he remains untouched by the ravages of time.

The novel explores the concept of aestheticism, a philosophy championed by Wilde himself, which emphasizes the pursuit of beauty and the rejection of conventional morality. Dorian Gray, initially an emblem of aesthetic perfection, descends into a life of decadence, indulging in every pleasure the world has to offer without regard for the ethical ramifications. Wilde's razor-sharp wit and satirical commentary on the superficiality of society are evident as Dorian navigates the underbelly of Victorian London.

Wilde's prose is a marvel, a poetic symphony that captures the essence of his aesthetic philosophy. The novel is replete with epigrams and witticisms that showcase Wilde's keen observation of human behavior and society's obsession with appearances. The writing is both ornate and cutting, creating a delightful tension that mirrors the duality inherent in the narrative.

The characters surrounding Dorian Gray add depth to the exploration of morality and corruption. Lord Henry Wotton, a charismatic and cynical aristocrat, serves as the catalyst for Dorian's moral descent. His aphorisms and influence on Dorian encapsulate the allure of a life unfettered by societal norms. Basil Hallward, the artist who initially captures Dorian's beauty, becomes a symbol of the internal struggle between art and morality.

The narrative is enriched by the symbolic significance of the portrait itself. As Dorian's sins accumulate, the portrait undergoes a grotesque transformation, reflecting the moral decay hidden beneath the veneer of youth and beauty. The portrait becomes a haunting reminder of the consequences of a life lived without moral restraint, a visual representation of the soul's degradation.

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" is not merely a cautionary tale but a profound exploration of the human condition. Wilde challenges the superficiality of societal values, prompting readers to confront the inherent tension between aesthetic pursuits and ethical responsibilities. The novel's themes remain relevant, inviting contemporary readers to reflect on the price of unchecked desire and the pursuit of an idealized, hedonistic existence.

In conclusion, Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" stands as a literary masterpiece that transcends its Victorian origins. The novel's exploration of beauty, morality, and the consequences of decadence remains as relevant today as it was over a century ago. Wilde's unparalleled wit, coupled with the timeless relevance of the novel's themes, solidify its place in the literary canon as a work that continues to provoke thought and captivate readers with its exploration of the eternal struggle between the allure of beauty and the inevitability of moral decay.

Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is available in Amazon in paperback 11.99$ and hardcover 19.99$ editions.

Number of pages: 188

Language: English

Rating: 10/10                                           

Link of the book!

Review By: King's Cat

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Poetic Genres

Whereas a poetic "form" defines the way a poem arranges sounds, rhythms, or its appearance on the page, a poetic "genre" is something like the poem's style. Many poetic genres have a long history, and new poems almost always seek to explore a new aspect of the traditional style and thus to redefine the genre in some way. The following list is a selection of the major genres of poetry.

allegory A narrative with two levels of meaning, one stated and one unstated.

aubade A song or poem greeting the sunrise, traditionally a lover's lament that the night's passion must come to an end.

ballad Broadly speaking, the ballad is a genre of folk poetry, usually an orally transmitted narrative song. The term "ballad" applies to several other kinds of poetry, including the English ballad stanza, which is a form often associated with the genre.

blason A Renaissance genre characterized by a short catalogue-style description, often of the female body.

cento A poem composed entirely of lines from other poems.

dirge A funeral song.

dramatic monologue This might be called a "closet soliloquy": a long poem spoken by a character who often unwittingly reveals his or her hidden desires and actions over the course of the poem. The "I" of the dramatic monologue is very distinct from the "I" of the poet's persona. Robert Browning was a master of this genre.

eclogue A short pastoral poem; Virgil's eclogues are one of the first examples of this genre.

ekphrasis Originally a description of any kind, "ekphrasis" is now almost exclusively applied to the poetic description of a work of art.

elegy This genre can be difficult to define, as there are specific types of elegiac poem as well as a general elegiac mood, but almost all elegies mourn, and seek consolation for, a loss of some kind: the most common form of elegy is a lyric commemorating the death of a loved one. Greek elegiac meter, which is one source of what we know as the elegy today, is not normally associated with loss and mourning.

epic A long narrative poem that catalogues and celebrates heroic or historic deeds and events, usually focusing on a single heroic individual.

epigram A brief and pithy aphoristic observation, often satirical.

epitaph A tombstone inscription. Several famous poems end with the poet writing his own. (See, for example, Thomas Gray's "Elegy in a Country Churchyard" or W.B. Yeats's "Under Ben Bulben.")

epithalamion A song or poem that celebrates a wedding.

fable A brief tale about talking animals or objects, usually having a moral or pedagogical point, which is sometimes explicitly stated at the end. Aesop and la Fontaine are perhaps the most famous fable-writers.

georgic The agricultural cousin of pastoral, a georgic is a poem that celebrates rustic labor.

hymn A song of praise.

invective A personal, often abusive, denunciation.

lament An expression of grief.

light verse Poetry that is mostly for fun: this can mean anything from nonsense verse to folk songs, but typically there is a comical element to light verse.

lyric This genre encompasses a large portion of the world's poetry; in general, lyrics are fairly brief poems that emphasize musical qualities.

masque Courtly drama characterized by elaborate costumes and dances, as well as audience participation.

occasional verse Poetry written with reference to a particular event.

ode A long, serious meditation on an elevated subject, an ode can take one of three forms.

paean A song of joy or triumph.

palinode A recantation or retraction, usually of an earlier poem.

panegyric Poem or song in praise of a particular individual or object.

parody A comic imitation.

pastoral Originally a poem that depicted an idealized singing competition between shepherds, "pastoral" has come to denote almost anything to do with a rural setting, although it also refers to several specific categories of the genre. Associated genres of varying synonymity are idyll, bucolic, eclogue, and georgic.

psalm A sacred song.

riddle A puzzling question that relies on allegory or wordplay for its answer. Riddles are often short, and often include an answer to the question posed, albeit an unsatisfying one. The riddle of the Sphinx, which Oedipus solved, is a particularly famous example: "what walks on four legs in the morning, two at midday, and three in the afternoon?"

romance An adventure tale, usually set in a mythical or remote locale. Verse forms of the romance include the  Spanish ballad and  medieval or chivalric romance.

satire Ridicule of some kind, usually passing moral judgment.

tragedy This genre originated in ancient Greek verse drama and received extended treatment in Aristotle's Poetics, which made the downfall of the main character one of the criteria for tragedy. The genre has since expanded to include almost anything pertaining to a downfall.

verse epistle A letter written in verse, usually taking as its subject either a philosophical or a romantic question.

If these writing notes helped with your poem/story, please tag me. Or leave a link in the replies. I'd love to read them!

[scribl1ta]

tagged by lovelyyy @zaegreus☺️❤️‍🔥

LAST SONG? "You're so Good to Me" by Mac & Monica

FAVORITE COLOR? emerald green

CURRENTLY WATCHING? youtube :)

LAST MOVIE? American Fiction, SO GOOD + frogs +satyricon mentions🔥I really recommend this film if you're looking for a satire that's actually nuanced, sad, and entertaining without being smug. I think a lot of you would love it <3

SWEET/SPICY/SAVORY? sweet :)) I love sweet and spicy or sweet and sour too🥓

RELATIONSHIP STATUS? single🤯

CURRENT OBSESSIONS? I'm taking an amazing class on Hellenic epigrams that are inspiring me so much. I hadn't realized how much I based a lot of my writing on them and they are so much fun to rediscover🥰 (I also get a little depressed because i'm so NOT a poet and I wish i could have my characters break into hexameter more often)

And i'm obsessed with drinking water because my throat just started feeling crusty yesterday.... idk how that's going to go...

LAST THING YOU GOOGLED? trajanic cut... needed for school

tagging @headsinsand @seianus @hellokittysasuke @ozymandiaskingofkings ❤️

[madebypointlesswords]

Rating all the Latin authors I've read in the past two years in honor of my oral Latin exam tomorrow

Caesar (De Bello Gallico)

This is a weird one because while his prose isn't extremely difficult, it was also the first unedited work I read, so for lil 15-year-old me, this was very difficult. But I learned a lot from Caesar (especially that he made it an art to making his sentences as long as possible. We read an entire 200 words, and IT WAS JUST ONE SENTENCE.), and the sense of nostalgia while rereading it is very pleasant, so I will give you a solid 6/10

Pliny the Younger (Epistulae)

Mixed feelings about this one again. This could also be just because I despise prose. I really do not like it at all. Pliny's epistulae were pretty okay. I liked them a little better than Caesar's because of their variety (for those that don't know, epistulae means letters). His letter about the Vesuvius was a lot of fun to translate, even with all the hyperbata, but his letters about or to his third wife were very uncomfortable. Like, I get things were different back then. BUT YOU WERE 45, PLINY. 45. SHE WAS WHAT? 14? 15 TOPS? MY GOD. THAT'S A BIGGER AGE DIFFERENCE THAN I HAVE WITH MY FATHER.

7/10

Ovid (Metamorphoses)

Ovid is life Ovid is love. He was the one who introduced me to Latin poetry, and I will always love him for it. He was an icon and a legend. The poems of his that we read (Daedalus & Icarus, Latona and the Lycian peasants, Diana and Actaeon) were all bangers, and I love them all to death. I never wanted to go back to reading prose after this (but unfortunately, I will have to next year. ew)

11/10 (I love you, Ovid)

Vergil (The Aeneid)

*deep sigh* Listen. I love his complex works, and I have great respect for this poem but by the GODS. Vergil's poetry is the most difficult I've had to translate by a long shot. He made me rethink my entire career in Latin. I have considered quitting so many times because of this man. I felt like a complete idiot most of the time. This is not a guy to fuck with. Luckily I got through it on my finals (barely.) but Christ alive this man made my life difficult.

5/10

Horatius (Satires and Odes)

Horatius will always have a special place in my heart. We read his poetry right after Vergil's, and it almost completely restored my faith in my abilities. He's just my little guy and I have fond memories of translating his works. We still know many Latin phrases that he wrote (Carpe Diem being the most famous. Hello, DPS fandom). Also, he and Vergil were most definitely in love. I don't make the rules. I have evidence if you want me to elaborate.

9/10

Catullus (love poems)

Ah, Catullus. Horny poet of the year. Had a wild affair with an older married woman. Nepotism baby. Sappho stan. Didn't know how to budget, but we aren't holding that against him. Just wanted to write poetry and dance (who doesn't, honestly). Gave fuck-all about education. Wrote nearly all of his poetry about the older woman he had an affair with. Might I add that this woman was married to one of his father's bestest buddies? Yeah. Icon. Here's a kid's choice award.

8/10

Martialis (Epigrams)

This dude had ZERO chill. Roasted everyone in the city. Literally, no one is safe. Wasn't afraid to call people out by their real names. Some people allegedly committed suicide after being roasted by this guy. Translating his epigrams gave me more joy than hearing we had seen the end of Vergil. His humour may be a little silly now, but I will not accept any Martialis slander on my blog.

10/10

And that is all folks

[metidax]

Turgenev and Dostoevsky: the conflict of two great Russian writers

At their first meeting Turgenev and Dostoevsky had a mutual sympathy; both recognised each other's brilliant abilities.

However, around other writers Dostoevsky behaved excessively arrogant. Turgenev and another Russian writer, Nekrasov, wrote an epigram which offended Dostoevsky seriously.

When Dostoevsky was exiled to forced-labor camp, relations between the writers improved, they corresponded: Turgenev was worried about his health.

Dostoevsky spoke highly of Fathers and Sons: he wrote that Turgenev had grasped social tendencies perfectly. Turgenev, on the contrary, criticised Crime and Punishment, calling it a "prolonged cholera colic".

The ideological contradiction was also the reason for the conflict: Dostoevsky was a devout monarchist and believed that Russia had a unique path to follow; Turgenev was oriented on values of West Europe. In 1867 friends-enemies met in Baden-Baden. Earlier that year, Turgenev's satirical novel Smoke was published; the author points out both the failure of revolutionaries and the ineptitude of upper class. The novel angered everyone and was severely criticised.

In a private conversation about this novel, Dostoevsky and Turgenev had a final confrontation. We know Dostoevsky's version of events from his letters: he claimed that Turgenev had denied God and called Russia's original path "a foolishness". At the same time, Dostoevsky advised Turgenev to buy a telescope, so that it would be more convenient to view the life Russia from faraway Europe where Turgenev spent a lot of time.

Later Dostoevsky in his novel The Demons made a comic figure out of Turgenev. The character Karmazinov tried to please representatives of all political directions (Turgenev was accused of the same thing). Karmazinov also created an alleged farewell manuscript, Merci (after the storm of criticism of Fathers and Sons, Turgenev wrote work Enough and announced that he was quitting literature, but after that he wrote lots of novels); finally, Karmazinov had a shrill voice (Turgenev had a rather high voice).

Turgenev could not bear such an offence. The writers remained in quarrel for the rest of their lives. Even after Dostoevsky's death, Turgenev compared him to the Marquis de Sade because of his morbid attraction to suffering.

[amphibious-thing]

This actually made me curious if I could find the earliest known reference to the saying. It seems to be Walpole who recalls it in his commonplace book of verses, stories, characters, letters, etc. etc. which is dated to the 1740s:

Ld Hervey was not the only one of his family, remarkable for effeminacy; some of his Brothers were like Him. Lady Mary Wortley said, there were three sexes; men, women, & Herveys.

I most commonly see people citing The Letters and Works of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu edited by Lord Wharncliffe which wasn't published until 1837. Wharncliffe also ties the quote to Hervey's effeminacy tho he recalls the wording differently to Walpole:

Another of Lady Mary's friends, the famous Lord Hervey, however blackened or extolled, must have been anything but stupid. Their intimacy did not always prevent her from laughing at him, as is proved by the well-known sentence, almost a proverb, ''that this world consisted of men, women, and Herveys," which was originally hers. And so might be a chance-epigram or ballad besides, yet no great harm done. For as there are some people who must be handled seriously or not meddled with, and a few whom it would be sacrilege and profanation to laugh at, there are others with whom their friends take that liberty every day ; nay, who invite it by laughing at themselves. This is very commonly the case with those who, being conscious of some whimsical peculiarity, and withal no fools, think that humorously exaggerating their own foible, gives them a privilege to indulge it. The exaggeration then gets abroad, and by that the character is stamped. For '' half the strange stories you hear in the world" (said one who knew it well) "come from people's not understanding a joke." Accordingly, it has been handed down as a proof of the extreme to which Lord Hervey carried his effeminate nicety, that, when asked at dinner whether he would have some beef, he answered, "Beef? — Oh, no! — Faugh! Don't you know I never eat beef, nor horse, nor any of those things?'' — Could any mortal have said this in earnest?

There are other 19th century sources (all crediting the quote to Lady Mary) that understand it to be about sex/gender but again the wording varies between accounts.

On the 16th of March 1842 the Morning Post writes:

Lady Mary Mortley used to say of an effeminate friend of her's, "This world is peopled with men, women, and Herveys."

In his 1847 novel Strawberry Hill Robert Folkestone Williams comments:

Persons of all ages and all sexes, or as Lady Wortley Montagu described them— men, women, and Herveys—

The July 1898 issue of the Edinburgh Review or Critical Journal ties the quote to Pope's satirical poem Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot in which he calls Hervey an "amphibious thing":

The poet's satire was, perhaps, in some respects justified by the curious effeminacy, characteristic of the mental qualities, as well as the physical features, of Lord Hervey, which prompted the epigram of his friend and correspondent Lady Mary Montagu (sometimes ascribed to Chesterfield) that 'at the beginning God created men, women, and Herveys.'

Without the original context and wording it's impossible to know what Lady Mary meant when she said it but it does seem that people understood her to be making a comment on Lord Hervey's sex/gender. The phrase seems to have shifted meaning latter when it was applied to other Herveys.

If anyone knows of an earlier source I'd be really interested to see it.

[asukiess]

may I inquire about what kind of stash of new words do you have? 👀

YES. that's so sweet you asked.

it's in no particular order, and they're mostly from classic books so some of them are just straight up pretentious (in the fact that like. who tf would use these) or archaic, or I am simply learning Very Common Words, but some of them create such a pretty rhythm!!

so, here's my list under the cut :)

loth/loath (unwilling. apparently this is mostly used in the uk???)

Seignorial (archaic? of feudal lordship)

Bellicose (inclined to start quarrels or wars)

loquacious (talkative)

Expostulated (trying to dissuade someone)

Vexatious (causing or tending to cause annoyance, frustration, or worry. I really, really love the word vex for some reason)

Capricious (given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior)

Forbear (refrain)

Acrid (bitter, unpleasant taste/smell)

Acme (the very best; pinnacle)

Enmity (state of being totally opposed to something)

Repudiated (to refuse/deny something/someone)

Adroitly (cleverly)

Balustrade (for when you run out of the number of time you can say railing)

Tensile (relating to tension, or capable of being drawn out or stretched)

Deference (humble submission. wonder why I have that :))

Peremptorily (stating something with the expectation of it being obeyed w/out question)

Prosaic (unromantic way of putting something. my mind wants to connect this word with Prozac lmao)

Aplomb (with self-confidence or assurance)

Syllogism (a logical reasoning using two examples - "All mammals are animals. All elephants are mammals. Therefore, all elephants are animals")

Vaunt (boast a lot)

Veneration (for when you have used reverence too much)

Limn/limned (describing something beautifully OR highlighting something with a bright color, for when I have said suffuse too much)

Dross (rubbish)

Sluiced (pour, flow, or shower freely)

Eke (just barely)

Alacrity (readiness with cheer)

Eddied (whirled, of air and water)

Epigram (brief, interesting, memorable, and sometimes surprising or satirical statement. think I saved this one specifically bc it reminded me of Chat)

Soupçon (very small quanitity)

Brusque (brisk, abrupt)

Moue (pouting expression. what a cute word!!!)

Blithely (cheerful ignorance)

Serried (literally got this from one of your fics lmao, row standing close together)

To use more:

affronted

Halting

Distaste

Oblivion

Balked

Pall/pallor

Gossamer

coup de grâce

glint

gild

[lionofchaeronea]

A Town with Pretensions

Anthologia Palatina XI.98 = Ammianus (Trajanic period?)

Note: In the Imperial period, many cities and towns, particularly in Asia Minor, competed zealously for the honor of being designated a "metropolis". This rank brought with it privileges both sacred and secular (e.g. playing host to the assizes held by Roman provincial officials, which could bring in a great deal of money to the local coffers).

Let a “mother city” first be a city, Then let it be called a “mother city”; But not now, when it’s not even a city! ἔστω μητρόπολις πρῶτον πόλις, εἶτα λεγέσθω μητρόπολις: μὴ νῦν, ἡνίκα μηδὲ πόλις.

Italian Coastal Town, Robert Alott (1850-1910)

[byneddiedingo]

Dorothy Tutin and Joan Greenwood in The Importance of Being Earnest (Anthony Asquith, 1952)

Cast: Michael Redgrave, Michael Denison, Edith Evans, Joan Greenwood, Dorothy Tutin, Margaret Rutherford, Miles Malleson, Aubrey Mather. Screenplay: Anthony Asquith, based on a play by Oscar Wilde. Cinematography: Desmond Dickinson. Art direction: Carmen Dillon. Film editing: John D. Guthridge. Costume design: Beatrice Dawson. Music: Benjamin Frankel. For its marvelous sendup of the drawing room drama, the intricate craftsmanship of its plot, and the unparalleled wit of its dialogue, The Importance of Being Earnest has been called a "perfect" play. But perfection in the theater doesn't readily translate to perfection on the screen, so some of the fluidity and buoyancy of Oscar Wilde's play is lost in Anthony Asquith's otherwise admirable film. Asquith's screenplay chops up and relocates parts of some of the play's acts, and it provides a theatrical frame for the action: people taking their seats in the box of a Victorian theater and the curtain rising as a woman raises her opera glasses to view the performance. Asquith immediately breaks from that frame to show Ernest (Michael Redgrave) in his bath, a scene that doesn't exist in the play and seems to be in the film only to demonstrate that the screenwriter has "opened it up" cinematically. But almost immediately we are back in the confines of Wilde's original, as Algernon (Michael Denison) arrives and the exposition begins. The frame is a nice little trick on Asquith's part, but it feels gratuitous. The play's the thing, and for the most part Asquith sticks to it. The chief glory of his film lies in his cast, most of whom had almost certainly performed their roles on stage, given the centrality of Wilde's play in the British repertoire. And although the men are perfectly fine in their roles, the women are what matter in the film: a quartet of perfectly cast, impeccably skilled performers. Lady Bracknell typically steals every production of The Importance of Being Earnest, and with her imperious delivery Edith Evans almost makes the role her own forever -- though the part has been played by equally formidable actresses like Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. No one has ever surpassed her in summoning up the full diapason while delivering the line "A handbag?" Nor is it possible to imagine a more perfect embodiment of Miss Prism than Margaret Rutherford, who makes it quite clear that the character was entirely capable of placing the novel in the pram and the baby in the valise. Gwendolen and Cecily are not so distinctly drawn in the script: Both are cunning ditzes, vehicles for epigrams, satires on girlishness. But Joan Greenwood and Dorothy Tutin give each a discrete characterization, Tutin with her sunny pretense at naïveté, Greenwood with her mastery of a voice that can go from purr to growl in nothing flat. If I give Greenwood the edge, it's only because of the way her slight lisp makes hearing her say the name Cecily such a delight.

[jahsonic]

I remember quite well how Gershon Legman described that in the taxonomy of folktales, the category meant for sexual humour was empty. Since visiting the Mundaneum in Mons, I have been re-investigating classification and taxonomy and decided to look up where erotica and pornography are to be found under the MDS (Melville decimal system) and the UDC (Otlet's Universal Decimal System).

At the Dewey, you will find under 82-7 "Prose satire. Humour, epigram, parody". That same number houses “satire and humor” at the UDC. But I decided to search a little further and found at a document entitled Dewey decimal classification and relative index (1979) that erotica is listed under number 704.9428.

And at the UDC you will find 82-993: "Licentious, salacious, titillating literature. Erotica. Pornography". By the way but still very much on topic on a personal level, the neighboring category 82-994 houses "offbeat , eccentric literature . Inspirational , visionary , insane literature" and next door you find 82-995: "Literary fabrications , hoaxes. Pastiches . Imaginary , supposed works ." Beautiful, not?

Illustration: Erotica is  704.9428 in the Dewey decimal system.

[kimiiko-x]

books are cool

I really enjoy reading books, A book is a medium for recording information in the form of writing or images. Modern books are typically in codex format, composed of many pages that are bound together and protected by a cover.A book is a medium for recording information in the form of writing or images. Modern books are typically in codex format, composed of many pages that are bound together and protected by a cover.

The book above was one of the first ever books printed with a printing press. Modern books are usually in codex format, composed of many pages. They are connected together by a cover. One of my favorites was The Great Gatsby, a classic book by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby is widely considered to be a literary masterpiece and a contender for the title of the Great American Novel. As a conceptual object, a book refers to a written work of substantial length, which may be distributed either physically or in digital forms like eBooks. These can be fiction or non-fiction. A physical book may not contain such a work: for example, it may contain only drawings, engravings, photographs, puzzles, or removable content like paper dolls. It may also be left empty for personal use, as in the case of account books, appointment books, autograph books, notebooks, diaries and sketchbooks.

The picture above is a notebook, not all books contain stories in them, they can be used to write stories. Writing stories such as diary entries are so relaxing. Who knows, your diary might become a famous story in the future. Books are sold at different stores, online for delivery, and can be borrowed from libraries.

TYPES OF GENRES, WORDS, ETC. ↓

Literature

Oral literature Folklore-(fable - fairy - tale - folk play - folksong - heroic epic - legend - myth - proverb) Oration - Performance (audiobook - spoken word)- Saying Major written forms Drama- (closet drama) - Poetry-(lyric - narrative) - Prose - Nonsense - (verse) - Ergodic - Electronic Long prose fiction Anthology - Serial - Novel/romance Short prose fiction Novella - Novelette - Short story - Drabble - Sketch - Flash fiction - Parable - Religious - Wisdom Prose genres Fiction Speculative - Realist - Children's - Genre -(adventure - coming-of-age - crime - erotic - fantasy - military - paranormal - romance - science fiction - supernatural - western - horror) - Historical - Encyclopedic Non-fiction Academic - (history - philosophy) - Anecdote - Epistle - Essay - Journalism - Letter - Life - Nature - Persuasive - Travelogue Poetry genres Narrative Children - Epic - Dramatic - Verse novel - National Lyric Ballad - Elegy - Epigram - Ghazal - Haiku - Hymn Limerick - Ode - Qasida - Sonnet - Villanelle Lists Epic - Groups and movements - Poets Dramatic genres Comedy - Libretto - Play - (historical - moral) - Satire - Script - Tragedy - Tragicomedy History Ancient - Classical - Medieval - Modernist - Postmodern Lists and outlines Outline - Glossary - Books - Writers - Movements -Cycles - Literary awards - (poetry) Theory and criticism Sociology - Magazines - Composition - Language - Narrative - Feud - Estate

↓ There are many different genres and type of books, that's why it is cool. ~Information and pictures by Wikipedia and Pinterest~

[feuilletonette]

ೀ ━━━━━━ # 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐃𝓛 𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒

✰ — epigrams : mostly literary references and passages that cultivates one’s creative thinking

✰ — personal development : spiritual growth, manifestation, self-concept, & becoming the highest version of yourself

✰ — reality shifting : interdimensional travel, shifting motivations, quantum physics, etc.

✰ — (slightly) deranged musings : my own unorganised inputs to the heavily-curated algorithm i’m exposed to

✰ — whimsicalities : my favoured unorganised inputs from other people to the heavily-curated algorithm i’m exposed to a.k.a satirical insinuations

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