The Aphorism and Other Short Forms

The aphorism captures a huge amount of truth, meaning or wit in a very short statement. It has been used and studied from classical times to contemporary theory and takes on a new relevance when we look at today’s communication media such as text messages and twitter. This concise guide offers an overview of:

• The history of the aphorism to the present day
• Its relation to other short forms, including the fragment, the proverb, the maxim, the haiku, the epigram and the quotation
• The use of th...