DIDACTIC LITERATURE, is literature that
has as its major purpose the instruction or guidance of the reader,
particularly in moral or religious matters, but also in politics,
science, and other affairs. All literature may be considered
didactic to some degree in that it exists to communicate some
emotion, fact, or idea, but a work is called “didactic” if what the
author intends to communicate takes precedence over artistic
quality.
说教文学，是以指导或引导读者为其主要目的的文学，尤其是在道德或宗教事务中，也包括政治、科学和其它事物。在某种程度上，所有文学都可被认为是说教的文学，因为它的存在是为传达某些情感、事实，或观念，但如果作者想传达的东西优先于艺术性，那么一部作品就可称为“说教”。
A basic controversy in literary criticism centers on the question of whether a work should be judged primarily by its didactic qualities or by its artistic qualities. Plato insisted that art should be judged on its didactic qualities; he banished Homer from the ideal state outlined in the Republic for Homer’s unflattering portrayal of th
说教文学，是以指导或引导读者为其主要目的的文学，尤其是在道德或宗教事务中，也包括政治、科学和其它事物。在某种程度上，所有文学都可被认为是说教的文学，因为它的存在是为传达某些情感、事实，或观念，但如果作者想传达的东西优先于艺术性，那么一部作品就可称为“说教”。
A basic controversy in literary criticism centers on the question of whether a work should be judged primarily by its didactic qualities or by its artistic qualities. Plato insisted that art should be judged on its didactic qualities; he banished Homer from the ideal state outlined in the Republic for Homer’s unflattering portrayal of th