representation

This general term refers to the way literature can, to some extent, mirror nature and life. But representation of reality is not the same thing as reality itself. It is important to ask, "How is reality represented here?" or "How does the author attempt to represent reality here?" NOT "What does this poem tell us about the world?" or "What do we learn about the world from this novel?" We must always remember when reading literature that we are reading words meant to represent something to us, not to show us the thing itself. In addition to words, the form of a poem or the plot of a novel can represent a worldview or an attitude toward reality.