Literary notes about paragon (AI summary)
In literature, the word paragon serves as a versatile emblem of perfection and excellence. Writers often deploy it to describe a person who embodies ideal qualities—whether as the epitome of beauty [1, 2] or virtue [3, 4]—or, conversely, to underscore an exaggerated or ironic standard of excellence [5, 6]. It appears in both earnest and playful settings, from characters lauding refined qualities [7] to narratives where the term is employed humorously to highlight the absurdity of perfection [8, 9]. Moreover, the term occasionally extends beyond human traits to characterize architectural style or institutional quality [10, 11]. Such varied usage illustrates how paragon has long been harnessed in literature to question, celebrate, and reframe our understanding of the ideal.
- Rachel was of course the paragon of womankind.
— from The Red House on Rowan Street by Lily A. (Lily Augusta) Long - The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare - I have no doubt, from what you have said, that you are a very paragon of virtue—a perfect Lucretia; but . . .”
— from The Romany Ryea sequel to "Lavengro" by George Borrow - Quite naturally they came to regard her as the paragon and miracle of women.
— from The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett - I, a perfect paragon, am hated because I am one; you, a perfect paragon, are idolized in spite of it.
— from Pelham — Complete by Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron - Yet it will be hard to convince me that 'Black Bart' is the paragon of virtue you describe.
— from Keith of the Border: A Tale of the Plains by Randall Parrish - Who, as a waiter, was a paragon Of quick politeness.
— from Songs of the Sea and Lays of the Land by Charles Godfrey Leland - What do you think of your paragon now? OCTAVIUS.
— from Man and Superman: A Comedy and a Philosophy by Bernard Shaw - “And yours was a paragon—is that what you mean?” asked her friend with a laugh.
— from The Portrait of a Lady — Volume 1 by Henry James - [217] Paragon remains unchanged, the doorways enclosed by pent-house and pilasters remain the very type of late eighteenth-century architecture.
— from Jane Austen and Her Times by G. E. (Geraldine Edith) Mitton - He came into the Paragon Hotel and dressed for dinner as sulky as a naturally cheerful soul could be.
— from The Admirable TinkerChild of the World by Edgar Jepson
