Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Parable
(1,189 words)

1. Definition and forms

Today a parable (from Greek parabolḗ, “comparison,” “simile”; Latin parabola/e) is generally thought of as a short narrative that conveys metaphorically encoded insights into life. In biblical studies as well as literary studies and rhetoric, the term is also used for a second form type: a rhetorical and stylistic textual element embodying a graphic comparsion. This parable consists of an image and its interpretation; the …

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Heydebrand, Renate von, “Parable”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_025247>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20200721



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