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Literature Glossary

Don’t be an oxymoron. Know your literary terms.

Over 200 literary terms, Shmooped to perfection.

Conduct Literature

Definition:

Conduct literature is a kind of writing meant to instruct young people on their behavior and teach them about society. The genre flourished in the 16th century (think Castiglione's The Book of the Courtier) and often focused on women. How should a lady act? was the question of the day. Conduct literature influenced 17th-, 18th- and 19th- century novelists like Daniel Defoe and Jane Austen. Can you spot the inspiration?

Tags: General, Genre