Literary notes about PROGENY (AI summary)
The term "progeny" in literature spans a range of meanings from the literal to the metaphorical. Often it denotes actual offspring or descendants, as seen in epic narratives where divine or heroic lineages are central [1, 2], and in scientific expositions on natural selection that emphasize survival of the fittest [3, 4, 5]. At the same time, authors employ the term figuratively to evoke the idea of outcomes or byproducts, whether those be the tangible results of human actions or the more abstract inheritances of thought and culture [6, 7]. This dual usage—grounding both biological lineage and broader generative effects—demonstrates the word’s versatility across various literary genres and historical contexts [8, 9].
- Five hundred years passed away, and the thousand eggs produced by Kadru burst and out came the progeny.
— from The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 - The first progeny of Brahmá or Brahmá himself.
— from The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Valmiki - Generally, the most vigorous males, those which are best fitted for their places in nature, will leave most progeny.
— from The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin - The most vigorous males, or those which have most successfully struggled with their conditions of life, will generally leave most progeny.
— from The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin - The most vigorous individuals, or those which have most successfully struggled with their conditions of life, will generally leave most progeny.
— from On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin - And this same progeny of evils comes From our debate, from our dissension: We are their parents and original.
— from A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare - ” “Markandeya continued, ‘And then a fiery powerful being came out of the body of Skanda for the purpose of devouring the progeny of mortal beings.
— from The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 - Thou art the progenitor of Truth, the destroyer of Diti’s progeny (Asuras), and the great conqueror of the enemies of the celestials.
— from The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 - Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light, Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand.
— from Paradise Lost by John Milton