What does "parnassianism" mean?
A French literary style which began during the positivist period of the 19th century.
Parnassianism
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A French literary style which began during the positivist period of the 19th century.
- Grammar: parnassianism is listed as noun.
- Usage evidence: The leading poets of Parnassianism, like Machado, were utterly respectable and middle classs, good family men; many were bureaucrats, and they were proud that they had freed poets from "the obligation to wear their hair long" (Bilac, in Broca, 1960:7). Symbolism was enormously influential in almost every other Western culture; it never had a chance in Brazil, in a literary world dominated by Parnassianism and its disciples.
How to use "parnassianism"
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Source and review context
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A French literary style which began during the positivist period of the 19th century. uncountable
"The leading poets of Parnassianism, like Machado, were utterly respectable and middle classs, good family men; many were bureaucrats, and they were proud that they had freed poets from "the obligation to wear their hair long" (Bilac, in Broca, 1960:7). Symbolism was enormously influential in almost every other Western culture; it never had a chance in Brazil, in a literary world dominated by Parnassianism and its disciples."
- 2 the theories and practice of a school of French poets in the 19th century, especially an emphasis upon art for art's sake, careful metrics, and the repression of emotive elements. wordnet
Example
"The leading poets of Parnassianism, like Machado, were utterly respectable and middle classs, good family men; many were bureaucrats, and they were proud that they had freed poets from "the obligation to wear their hair long" (Bilac, in Broca, 1960:7). Symbolism was enormously influential in almost every other Western culture; it never had a chance in Brazil, in a literary world dominated by Parnassianism and its disciples."
Common questions
How do you use "parnassianism" in a sentence?
The leading poets of Parnassianism, like Machado, were utterly respectable and middle classs, good family men; many were bureaucrats, and they were proud that they had freed poets from "the obligation to wear their hair long" (Bilac, in Broca, 1960:7). Symbolism was enormously influential in almost every other Western culture; it never had a chance in Brazil, in a literary world dominated by Parnassianism and its disciples.
Etymology
From Parnassian + -ism.