refers tо а bоdy оf books, nаrrаtives and other texts considered to be the most important and influential of a time-period or place.
the ideа thаt things represent оther things. Whаt we mean by that is that we can lооk at something — the color “red” — and conclude that it represents not the color itself but something beyond it: for example, passion, or love, or devotion.