Classically, the literary canon has been exclusive to certain types of authors, while excluding female, South American, African, Asian, gay, Native American, and other non-white male groups. Also, due to cultural and moral values of certain time periods, some works weren't considered that possibly would today. Basically the literary canon is at best an incomplete list of remarkable literature, making it somewhat less valuable than it could be. The element that makes the literary canon useful is the same element that makes every other example of good writing useful: it exposes the reader to different styles, themes, techniques, and verbiage, thus enlarging the reader's literary
The argument that Francine Prose makes is valid with the way she supports it. The importance of books is most likely know by looking at the diction and the style of writing. However, some high school teachers prevent their students from knowing the importance by the way the teach. Using literary works to teach values makes it difficult for the students in the future, like in college. By teaching students the right way in the first place or in this case, in high school, will help them
From our readings so far, one can see the strenuous decisions that have to be made when choosing to conform or to rebel against societies expectations. There can be both positives and negatives to conforming or rebelling. One isn’t right or wrong over the other, it’s based off of the particular individual. “The Hero’s Journey” is the perfect template for most works of literature. It conveys the steps necessary individuals must take to find themselves and to overall grow as a person. “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner and “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. are perfect examples of characters going through the cycles of the “Hero’s Journey,” while trying to determine exactly where they belong in society. Not only characters in a story,
“The Tired Man” Poem Anna Wickham -couples need to understand each other’s needs&desires-in a relationship, there must be give and take- couples must be alike to have a successful relationship. Simile – “wild as a hillstream”,“night as black as ink”RhymeRepetition –“sit I am a quiet gentle man” “ Oh give me a woman of my race”
A poem that incorporates the oppression of the people living in Martinique, and the political uprising of Martinique during French colonization would be “Out of Alien Days” by Aime Cesaire. Cesaire especially uses examples of imagery and tone to express the ideas of oppression and political revolution to focus on the forms of literature he describes. Along with examples of the literary elements, there should be an explanation of Cesaire’s usage of image and tone that explains the author’s main message in “Out of Alien Days.” In “Out of Alien Days,” Aime Cesaire uses the concepts of imagery and a revolutionary tone to illustrate the problems of the French colonization in Martinique. Cesaire constructs a definitive path in his poem where he is calling for change in Martinique, and rallying his people against the French empire. This paper is about introducing the concepts of imagery and a revolutionary tone along with examples used by Cesaire in “Out of Alien Days,” and an interpretation of the literary elements in connection to Cesaire’s theme in the poem.
young writers in the later part of the 19thCentury to begin to build a genuine
Prose points out that many authors try to use literary works to teach values and that she is skeptical of this method. I support Prose’s practice of using literary works to teach values. Two examples of novels that Prose said were used to teach values Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. In these Examples Prose shows that many English classes focus on the values of the author rather than the literary work itself.
The argument of ´Why Literature Matters´ is that young Americans are ¨reading at risk¨, Which the author defines as less people reading.
The western canon suffers from a disservice in that it is greatly homogeneous. That is most of the authors are dead, white western European men, and the literature reflects, almost, solely western beliefs. By lacking multiculturalism our students are denied a significant amount of insight into other cultures of the world. This among many other attributes of our culture can generate stigma towards outsides and develop xenophobia. Some are against multiculturalism as they view these books and their lessons to be a significant part of American culture (Cope and Kalantzis 285). But this injection into the cannon is inevitable, Kayhan Irani aspires for a global canon which envelops other cultures of the world though, this will require hard work ("THE BIG QUESTION: Is There a Global Canon?" 4). Embracing multiculturalism by developing our canon could deter ignorance among students and improve our culture for the better. The wester canon is far too homogenous, as a result this closes off our students from other cultures which can be of great benefit and interests to them. While acts of the hegemony of the United States would prefer to keep it in its current state for the sake of cultural tradition all the
In “Oxford Concise Dictionary Literary Terms” by Chris Baldick, characterization is defined as the representation of persons in narrative and dramatic works which include direct and indirect methods in inviting the readers to infer qualities from characters’ actions, speech, or appearance. However, modals in literature context serve as an eye opener to the personality and traits of the characters in short stories. It enables the readers to learn of the characters’ abilities, capabilities, prohibitions, obligations and so forth. The appearance of modals in literary texts serves its own specific purposes in accordance to the author’s wish. In David Leavitt’s “Territory” which describes the relationship between a mother (Mrs. Campbell) and her son (Neil) who is a homosexual, gives me an interest to explore and find out more about the characters. Through the use of modals found in the extract, it enables me to go in depth and examine the characterization in the story.
There are simply two types of people in this world; good people and bad people. In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the King of Scotland (well at least at the beginning of the play) whom is King Duncan, would be labeled as a good person. Duncan is viewed as Macbeth’s opposite, since Macbeth’s characteristics are all made to be pointed out as a bad person. The story of Macbeth is all about greed, power, and guilt. Macbeth becomes greedy when he kills Duncan in order to become king and to gain power. Lady Macbeth on the other hand is stricken with guilt at what she has caused her husband to do. The murder of Duncan is extremely crucial in the story, as is his character himself. In our society now, one person whose actions and words that is quite similar to Duncan’s overall effect is Justin Bieber.
'Literary canon' is a term used to describe a collection of ground-breaking books which have stood the test of time and warrant in-depth study because of their aesthetic beauty and universal appeal. A literary work may be considered worthy of canon status, if it meets the following criteria: the book must integrate themes, such as love, death and faith, which readers from an extensive range of backgrounds can relate to; it has to have persistent influence and express artistic quality; and it must be a pioneering piece of literature in its genre or style. In spite of the complex and much disputed formative process, books are canonized based on their literary merit as judged by influential literary critics, teachers and any other academics whose
For most people, John F. Kennedy Jr was a character in a play, a character in a story, just the way Sherlock Holmes was. When he's lost, then people react very emotionally. Constantly rehearsing the details of somebody's life and death shows that people are trying to continue the story. We always try to do that when the story ends before we're prepared for the ending.
The author discusses the use of the literature canon. He explains the history behind the American literature canon. For instance, the American canon was not fully expressed until 1890-1900s, when the first American literature classes were introduced. The American literature canon is influenced by England. Also, he uses quotes of different scholars about their own opinion on the literature canon. I think that this is reliable source because it has opinions of scholars, in which I can use as examples or reference.
While this essay can in no way claim to contain a fully representative sampling of what various scholars have contributed relative to the ongoing debate over the literary canon, I will attempt to highlight three distinct positions which are all informed by John Guillory's critical contributions to the canonical debate. First, I will discuss the concept of ideology and canon formation as Guillory first articulated it in his 1983 essay, "The Ideology of Canon Formation: T. S. Eliot and Cleanth Brooks," and which he subsequently thoroughly revised and included in his 1993 book on canon formation, Cultural Capital: The Problem of literary Canon Formation This essay on the ways ideology and cultural politics complicates and informs canon formation, also discusses Guillory's theory concerning the death Joe Weixlmann who offers his own commentary concerning how ideology and politics of literary orthodoxy in favor of a more democratically situated heterodoxy, and how this concept of a heterodoxy might inform the university's literary curriculum. Next, Christopher Ricks' essay, 'What is at stake in the "battle of the books"?" will be analyzed to determine if his attack on Guillory's assertions relative to his critique of the current status of the canonical debate contributes in any meaningful way to opinions about whether or not the literary canon should be revised. Finally, the several critics who have now offered commentary on Guillory's latest theories on canon formation as articulated in Cultural Capital will be discussed relative to how influential they perceive Guillory's latest work to be as it pertains to the ongoing debate over the nature of the extant literary canon.
The literature of a country is affected and influenced by how the people of that country live. This paper will prove that The French Revolution greatly influenced 19th Century French Romanticism. First, the cultural values of the revolution will be identified. Then, the different aspects of Romanticism will be presented. The cultural values of The French Revolution and Romanticism will then be linked.