What
is literature and why does it exist?
Literature
is the collection of all written works whose ideas possess the ability to be
reflected on, argued, and contradicted. These works include novels, plays,
poetry, and some academic articles. The purpose of literature is to promote or
spark discussion on the topic presented. Authors from various cultures use
literature to spread knowledge or their own opinion amongst their readers.
Response
to Calvino
I was struck by Calvino's lack of
explanation following his statement of the fourth definition of a classic:
"a classic is a book which with each rereading offers as much a sense of
discovery as the first reading." Such a critical factor should have been
explained more in detail; however, he chose to let the statement stand alone.
The fact that a classic novel can be reread over and over and still pose new
ideas and remain intriguing is a crucial part of its very definition. Every
classic work of literature needs to possess this quality. An author's goal is
to provoke new ideas and make readers question their own beliefs and opinions.
A piece of literature cannot accomplish this if it is one-sided.
The sixth definition Calvino
suggests, that “a classic is a book which has never exhausted all it has to say
to its readers”, is very similar to the fourth. Classics remain relevant
throughout time. Their themes comment on the world the author was living in at
the time they were written, but also last through centuries. The Odyssey by
Homer has been recognized as a great epic work since its inception because of its
great themes, one of which is temptation. On several occasions, Odysseus is
forced to put aside his temptations in order to continue his expedition. The
most well-known example of this is the encounter with the Sirens, women who
have beautiful voices which lure ships and their crewmen to their deaths on the
nearby rocks. Odysseus tells his men to tie him to the mast so that he may hear
the Sirens’ voices but resist the temptation to sail near them. People must
resist temptation like this (though maybe not as life-threatening) every day of
their normal lives. One must have the strength to resist the urge to check Facebook
while doing homework, or eat that last piece of cake, or text in class. The same
basic principles apply just as fittingly as they did when the work was written.
These are the qualities which are necessary for a book to be considered a
classic.
The way in which you compared a universal theme from The Odyssey to our daily lives was excellent. I agree that a classic definitely needs to be relatable to different time periods to be considered a great piece of literature. The two definitions that you chose to use describes classics very well, and they can go hand in hand if you look at classics as gaining a new sense of discovery and never becoming exhausted of it. Noting both definitions was crucial, because while some stories may have many different meanings and messages, it doesn't mean they can be read over and over again. I think it is also important to realize that while classics can have similar themes and underlying messages, they also spark imagination. Reading a classic such as The Odyssey is like being on an adventure, and I think that a true classic combines elements of human nature and of creativity into the story.
ReplyDeleteA book that I recommend reading is The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. It is a fictional story about an American family that moves to the African Congo in the 1950s. There are four daughters in the family so it was really interesting for me to relate to them as they experienced this dramatic culture shock, and although I have never moved to a place that much different, I could still understand their emotions. It was also interesting to look at the historical context since the father in the family was there as a minister trying to convert the Africans. Plus, the author went to DePauw!