Turner's Literary Canon

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What would society be like without its literary canon? Well, one may primarily ask: what is the literary canon? To some, it simply is the well-known, popular series of text a young adult will read throughout their high school and college careers. To others, it is viewed as the crucial pieces of our history that have shaped our society and withstood the tests of time, because of how well-written the literary works are. Both statements, despite being from two viewpoints, share the same main idea: that the literary canon, whichever way defined, is eminent to readers across the globe. In today’s society, however, many may argue that the literary canon is no longer as important as it used to be. The impact of social media and globalization has allowed …show more content…

to be placed on a universal platform that can be read by anyone, anywhere, at any time. The canon has been able to survive because of the fact that such “universal themes” recur throughout the decades, and provides a voice from an author that had lived during that time. For example, upon reading The House of Mirth, a novel written by Edith Wharton, the universal theme that was prevalent throughout the novel had been women’s rights and femininity. The main character, Lily Bart had struggled to achieve a place in high society. Women at this time had protect their reputations at all costs in high society, even if it meant lying or turning against each other to reach nearly impossible social standards. Lily, once submerged in the cut-throat society then resorts to lies and the defamation of others as an attempt to climb the social …show more content…

Because of this collection of well-written works, students will become open-minded to different societies, gain a better understanding of history, and encourage students to expand their thinking beyond what they know. Although its relevance will most probably be debated endlessly, it is essential that the use of literary canon within the educational system is to continue. Without it, we would lose our connections with the past, with other cultures, and each other. The literary canon is a platform for those who want their voice heard— our ancestors, those fighting to expose societal issues, and other cultures. The House of Mirth was a voice for women in the early 1900s, works of Shakespeare are voices from the past that provide us with history so that we can improve upon the future, and A Christmas Carol is a forever iconic piece of English literature that displays the history of European culture to the world. “A high school Language Arts curriculum that omits these diverse writers is missing some of the greatest works in world literature. Far from confining students to writers of a similar, privileged background, a focus on the Literary Canon reveals the variety of world genius.” (Soloway) While many argue that the literary canon is losing its relevance in the modern world, and it should be disposed of, the

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