Literary notes about exemplification (AI summary)
In literature, the term "exemplification" is employed as a rhetorical device to illustrate abstract principles by embodying them in a concrete narrative or character portrayal. Writers use it to make general ideas accessible—for instance, a depiction of natural human frailty and divine benevolence is rendered vividly in the portrayal of helplessness and love [1], while moral maxims are brought to life through memorable anecdotes and character studies [2][3]. It functions as a bridge between theory and life, where historical accounts or poetic expressions serve to underline philosophical or ethical arguments [4][5]. Moreover, such usage not only clarifies complex concepts by providing a tangible reflection of them but also reinforces the prevailing cultural or societal values of the work, as seen when a personal journey mirrors broader human truths [6] or when political ideals are underscored through the illustration of national character [7]. Overall, "exemplification" invites readers to understand abstract thought by engaging with vivid portrayals that resonate with both emotion and intellect.
- [22] How striking an exemplification is this of our utter helplessness and the unbounded love of God.
— from Works of John Bunyan — Complete by John Bunyan - The reader will not be displeased with the following interesting exemplification from Bishop Jeremy Taylor.
— from Biographia Literaria by Samuel Taylor Coleridge - It is, I fancy, an exemplification of the old saying, Miss Hereford, 'Marry in haste, and repent at leisure.'
— from Anne Hereford: A Novel by Wood, Henry, Mrs. - Working as she did, almost unaided and alone, Mrs. Ferrin is an exemplification of the dissatisfaction of women at this period with unjust laws.
— from History of Woman Suffrage, Volume I - The Raven also may be taken as a representative poem of its author, for its exemplification of all his notions of what a poem should be.
— from The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe - My fortunes have been, from the beginning, an exemplification of the power that mutability may possess over the varied tenor of man's life.
— from The Last Man by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley - Of this truth, the management of the opposition to the federal government is an unvaried exemplification.
— from The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton and John Jay and James Madison
