Epidemics in Literature: Literary Dynamics

Abstract

Humans have experienced and endured harrowing situations and horrors beyond their bounds witnessing wars, holocausts, plagues and the spread of epidemics, floods, famine and numerous natural calamities. The study of epidemics has been a recurring theme of traditional literary motif in Literature for over centuries. Upon the insistence of the epidemic in literature, many writers have explored, illustrated and represented this motif in their literary genres, underscoring not just its terrifying but also emphasizing the importance of nurturing human resilience and ways and means to confront them.