As a more urban culture developed, academies provided a means of transmission for speculative and philosophical literature in early civilizations, resulting in the prevalence of literature in Ancient China, Ancient India, Persia and Ancient Greece and Rome. Many works of earlier periods, even in narrative form, had a covert moral or didactic purpose, such as the Sanskrit Panchatantra or the Metamorphoses of Ovid. Drama and satire also developed as urban culture provided a larger public audience, and later readership, for literary production. Lyric poetry (as opposed to epic poetry) was often the speciality of courts and aristocratic circles, particularly in East Asia where songs were collected by the Chinese aristocracy as poems, the most notable being the Shijing or Book of Songs. Over a long period, the poetry of popular pre-literate balladry and song interpenetrated and eventually influenced poetry in the literary medium. COUNT 5
QSN1 What are some classical societies whose literature is still studied today? ANS1 Ancient China, Ancient India, Persia and Ancient Greece and Rome QSN2 Besides entertainment or informational value, classic literature also possessed what quality? ANS2 a covert moral or didactic purpose QSN3 What societal evolution helped to develop drama and satire by providing a ready audience? ANS3 urban culture QSN4 From what settings did lyric poetry derive? ANS4 courts and aristocratic circles QSN5 What is an example of a collection of classic Chinese lyric poetry? ANS5 the Shijing or Book of Songs