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Literary Merit refers to a high quality of writing attributed to works of Literature including Drama, Poetry, and Prose. Critics point to literary merit as necessarily subjective, since aesthetic value is often determined by personal taste, and has been derided as a "relic of a scholarly elite". Despite these criticisms, many criteria have been suggested to determine literary merit including: standing the test of time, realistic characters, emotional complexity, originality, and concern with truth. In 1957, at the obscenity trial for Howl, author Walter Van Tilburg Clark was prodded into defining literary merit. His response outlines some of the popular criteria:
==Poetry== Poetry has its own standards that constitute literary merit, though these may overlap with prose. Use of rhetorical devices (i.e. similes, metaphors, etc.) as well as style of diction, rhythm, and syntax tend to produce work which meets the above criteria. For example, William Shakespeare’s sonnets have received acclaim for his early pioneering of iambic pentameter a rhythmic device. Merit may also be derived from a poem's theme but tends to explore a greater focus on structure and positioning as well. Calligrams represent a poetic example in which critics explore the geometric shape of the text not necessarily an original theme or idea. ==Prose== Novels, novellas, and short stories vary slightly from poetry when ascribing literary merit. Typically, prose scholars consider the theme or greater message of the text, often in relation to motifs or symbols found within the story. The Great Gatsby, Heart of Darkness, and The Tell-Tale Heart each represent a category of prose recognized for a praiseworthy theme. Due to prose's traditionally greater length there is more space to express ideas in comparison to poetry. This couples with assisting in character development and emotional climaxes, traits often associated with valuable stories. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「literary merit」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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