Final answer:
The correct completion for the phrase is 'gold,' which teaches that not everything appearing valuable is truly so. Literature is identified by lasting themes, literary devices, and its exploration of the human condition. The literary spectrum helps categorize the depth of these elements in a text.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase 'but all that glistens is not gold' completes the statement, with the correct answer being option 1) gold. This is derived from Shakespeare's play 'The Merchant of Venice,' where it is originally phrased as 'all that glisters is not gold.' This line has become a well-known adage, meaning that not everything that appears valuable or true turns out to be so.
When discussing literature, we often look at texts that display certain qualities defining their literary merit. These include, but are not limited to, the use of literary devices, themes that have a lasting impact on the reader, and the ability to reflect or comment on the human condition. Characters, plot, settings, and themes are fundamental elements that contribute to whether a work is considered 'literature.' When we analyze these components critically, we can begin to understand the work's significance and place on the literary spectrum.