Grace Kasemeier

Ms. P Bradley

English 12AP

January 25, 2017

Classics in the Western Canon

The idea of a what makes a novel a classic and what makes it part of the

Western Canon is a seriously debated topic which has many answers. A classic is

expected to be well written and even beyond and to be in the Western Canon a novel is

expected to have stood the test of time. Scholars and readers a like discuss and dispute

what makes a piece of literature a classic deciding not only its worth but its place.

Classic pieces of literature are perceived as such for a variety of reasons. They

are expected to be eloquently written and beyond that they should express some

artistic quality--an expression of life, truth, and beauty. Classics are only that if they

reach out and touch their audiences if they have a certain universal appeal. Though

the specifics are debated these statements can be seen as true otherwise classics

wouldnt have continued to influence to this day.

The Western Canon and what classifies as a part of it, is all in relation to

standing the test of time and imparting some form of influence on generations. The

canon refers to the greatest works of art and music and represents the belief that the

works included in it have shaped and defined Western civilization. Not only are pieces

of literature included in this list but so are poems, pieces of music and any work of art

that ha shaped western culture. The western canon is constructed specifically to be

exclusive and elitist and continue to teach the same values to future generations

therefore the western canon enshrines patriarchy and purposefully ignores the hidden

pool of female writing talent. This statement brings up the question about who decides

what shapes our culture? Who decides what is classified as part of the Western Canon?

For both, classics and the western canon, scholars and the everyday person

decide how it becomes one. In relation to classics scholars appreciate them as such

because of their merit and influence and therefore continue to celebrate them. To be in

the Western Canon the populous most have recognized its worth for generations and

because of the influence it had it becomes a part of the canon. There are books that are

debated whether or not they continue to be either a classic or a part of the Western

Canon and yet they are not removed from the list because the definition of what these

two encompass is so subjective its impossible to say to someone else that what they

consider a classic is incorrect. As Italo Calvino said Your classic is a book to which

you cannot remain indifferent, and which helps you define yourself in relation or even in

opposition to it. If everyone has their own ideas of what makes a classic and what is a

classic to them there is no universal list that applies to everyone and therefore nothing

can be removed from that list.

 Works Cited

Brown, Alistair. "Lecture 18- Canonicity and Value." N.p., 12 Mar. 2015. Web. 27 Jan.

2017.

Garcia, Pablo, and O. Wallace. "What Is the Western Canon?" WiseGEEK. Conjecture

Corporation, n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2017.

Lombardi, Esther. "What Makes Classic Literature Classic?" About.com Education. N.p.,

21 May 2014. Web. 27 Jan. 2017.

Popova, Maria. "Italo Calvinos 14 Definitions of What Makes a Classic." Brain Pickings.

N.p., 17 Sept. 2015. Web. 27 Jan. 2017.