The entries explore all aspects of literature from around the world: biographies of poets and playwrights, novelists and belle trists; plot synopses, and character sketches from important works; historical data on literary schools, movements, terms, and awards; myths and legends; and more. 1) This fourth edition captures the diversity of today's canon, with greater attention to African-American, Eastern, Middle Eastern, African, South American, Eastern European, and women's literature.
2) Over 10,000 informative entries.
3) Biographies of poets, playwrights, novelists, essayists, and belle trists from around the world and through the ages, from Aristophanes to Toni Morrison.
4) Plot summaries of important literary works, ranging from Beowulf to Wuthering Heights.
5) Sketches of principal characters from literature, from Salome to Leopold Bloom.
6) Myth, legend, and folklore, covering everything from Isis to the paladins.
7) Biographies of artists, musicians, philosophers, and other historical personages ranging from Roman emperors to U.S. presidents who figure prominently in literature.
8) Accounts of significant schools and movements in literature, such as the Bloomsbury Group and the Beat writers.
9) Original titles, as well as the most familiar English titles, for works in languages other than English.
10) Recipients of major literary awards, including Pulitzer and Nobel prize winners.