Genre

Question-and-Answer Literature

Nonfiction and Documentary Prose

Question-and-answer literature, also known by its Greek name erotapokriseis, is a genre of Byzantine and late antique literature written as a series of questions and answers in the form of a dialogue between an anonymous or lightly characterized teacher and pupil. Its topics include Christian doctrine, biblical interpretation, canon law, cosmology and riddles, and its answers are generally offered as gnomai, or dogmatic truths, rather than as open arguments. The genre began around the year 400 and reached its greatest popularity between the seventh and ninth centuries, later declining before a revival in the fifteenth century.

Facts
Defining Trait
A series of questions and answers in the form of a dialogue 1
Origin Year
400 2
Defining Trait
Form and Technique 2
Sources
1. Erotapokrisis, Wikipedia
Lead section
Quote, Lead section
Erotapokriseis are a series of questions and answers in the form of a dialogue.
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2. Question-and-answer literature (Wikipedia)
  • Lead paragraph, defining sentence
    Erotapokriseis (Greek: ἐρωταποκρίσεις, lit. 'questions and answers'), singular erotapokrisis (ἐρωταπόκρισις), or question-and-answer literature, is a genre of Byzantine and late antique literature.
  • Lead paragraph, sentence giving the origin
    The genre originated around 400, but was at its most popular between the seventh and ninth centuries.
  • In Group: Medieval and Byzantine Prose Genres, Lead section
    Erotapokriseis (Greek: ἐρωταποκρίσεις, lit. 'questions and answers'), singular erotapokrisis (ἐρωταπόκρισις), or question-and-answer literature, is a genre of Byzantine and late antique literature.
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