Literary notes about index (AI summary)
The term "index" assumes a variety of roles in literary and scholarly texts. In some works, it functions as a navigational tool to direct readers to key topics, names, or passages, often presented in a dedicated section at the back of a book [1, 2, 3]. In other texts, it operates more as a metonymic indicator, signifying not only cross-references and catalogues of content but also serving as a metaphor—a gauge of completeness or even as an analogy for a measurable component, as when it indicates development or serves as a pointer to virtue [4, 5]. Additionally, the word appears in technical discussions, describing mechanisms or processes where "index" plays a literal, physical role [6, 7]. This multifaceted use of "index" underscores its importance both as a practical tool for organization and as a conceptual symbol in literature.