Wisdom literature
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- | '''Wisdom literature''' is the [[genre]] of [[literature]] common in the [[Ancient Near East]]. This genre is characterized by sayings of [[wisdom]] intended to teach about divinity and about [[virtue]]. The key principle of wisdom literature is that whilst techniques of traditional story-telling are used, books also presume to offer insight and wisdom about nature and reality. | + | '''Wisdom literature''' is a [[genre]] of [[literature]] common in the [[Ancient Near East]]. This genre is characterized by sayings of [[wisdom]] intended to teach about divinity and about [[virtue]]. The key principle of wisdom literature is that while techniques of traditional story-telling are used, books also presume to offer insight and wisdom about nature and reality. |
- | The most famous examples of wisdom literature are found in the [[Bible]]. | + | The most famous examples of wisdom literature are found in the [[Bible]]. The following Biblical books are classified as wisdom literature: |
+ | |||
+ | * ''[[Book of Job]] | ||
+ | * ''[[Psalms]] | ||
+ | * ''[[Book of Proverbs|Proverbs]] | ||
+ | * ''[[Ecclesiastes]] | ||
+ | * ''[[Song of Songs]] | ||
+ | * ''[[Book of Wisdom|Wisdom]]'' (also known as ''Wisdom of Solomon'') | ||
+ | * ''[[Ben Sira|Sirach]]'' (also known as ''Ben Sira'' or ''Ecclesiasticus'') | ||
+ | |||
+ | (''Wisdom'' and ''Sirach'' are [[deuterocanonical books]], placed in the [[Biblical apocrypha|Apocrypha]] by Protestant [[Bible translations]].) The genre of [[mirror-of-princes writing]]s, which has a long history in [[Islamic]] and Western [[Renaissance]] literature, represents a secular cognate of biblical wisdom literature. Within [[Classical Antiquity]], the advice poetry of [[Hesiod]], particularly his ''[[Works and Days]]'' has been seen as a like-genre to Near Eastern wisdom literature. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
- | * [[Proverb]] | + | * [[Apophthegmata Patrum]] |
- | * [[Mirror-of-princes writing]] | + | |
* [[Conduct book]] | * [[Conduct book]] | ||
- | * [[Self-help]] | ||
* [[Eastern philosophy]] | * [[Eastern philosophy]] | ||
- | * [[Apophthegmata Patrum]] | + | * [[Guidebook]] |
- | + | * [[Mirror-of-princes writing]] | |
+ | * [[Moral lesson]] | ||
+ | * [[Proverb]] | ||
+ | * [[Sage writing]] | ||
+ | * [[Self-help]] | ||
+ | * [[Teaching stories]] | ||
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Wisdom literature is a genre of literature common in the Ancient Near East. This genre is characterized by sayings of wisdom intended to teach about divinity and about virtue. The key principle of wisdom literature is that while techniques of traditional story-telling are used, books also presume to offer insight and wisdom about nature and reality.
The most famous examples of wisdom literature are found in the Bible. The following Biblical books are classified as wisdom literature:
- Book of Job
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Songs
- Wisdom (also known as Wisdom of Solomon)
- Sirach (also known as Ben Sira or Ecclesiasticus)
(Wisdom and Sirach are deuterocanonical books, placed in the Apocrypha by Protestant Bible translations.) The genre of mirror-of-princes writings, which has a long history in Islamic and Western Renaissance literature, represents a secular cognate of biblical wisdom literature. Within Classical Antiquity, the advice poetry of Hesiod, particularly his Works and Days has been seen as a like-genre to Near Eastern wisdom literature.
See also
- Apophthegmata Patrum
- Conduct book
- Eastern philosophy
- Guidebook
- Mirror-of-princes writing
- Moral lesson
- Proverb
- Sage writing
- Self-help
- Teaching stories