Tom Sawyer Analysis

Although many of the stories are valuable and even edifying, most do not contain the same literary content as the “classics.” Many of the sentences are short, simple, and made primarily of dialogue. The story lacks in depth of written description, instead using pictures to relay the author’s idea; The pictures are the primary method of telling a story in a graphic novel with words as the secondary force. Illustrators draw enough pictures that the reader is able to get an idea of the plot without reading a single word. Literature uses words as the primary force to convey the idea. The literary canon is made up of novels which essentially use the twists and turns of diction and syntax to communicate the depth of themes and purpose, not pictures. Although both of these types of books have to potential to be reinterpreted for generations and pulled apart to find themes and teachings that can be applied to the past, present, and future, only the typical novel can be considered

Everybody, whether interested in reading or not, has their own personal favorite ‘classics’. For some people it might be something that resonated for a while after reading it and for others it might be a book that they learned life lessons from. Everybody’s ‘classics’ are not the same because they are a matter of taste. My personal favorites might not be popular with another person and vice versa. Each person might pick a different book, but they are all similar because reader relates to the book and adds it to their personal ‘classics’ library.

Throughout high school students have to read novels that are American Classic, but what even makes a book be considered a classic? A classic is when a novel is relatable throughout decades of being made and it makes the reader intrigued.

What exactly is a classic? There are a few ways to determine whether a book is a classic or not. A classic can contain criteria such as professional writing, being representative of its time, or having a universal appeal. One example is a classic is Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: a Duty-Dance with Death by Kurt Vonnegut. The novel is about a man named Billy Pilgrim who was involved in the Second World War.

In this day in age, classics range from movies such as Titanic, to books such as Moby Dick, or even television shows such as I Love Lucy. But what does that mean? What even makes something “classic”? The definition of classic includes descriptions like “traditional”, “enduring quality”, “literary work of the first rank”. So what makes these works of art timeless or classic? Herman Melville, a classic author himself, stated that “To produce a mighty book you must choose a mighty theme.” Theme, in literature, is the main idea or underlying message of the book. The reason why theme is, in my opinion, the quality that makes a story classic is because it reaches the reader intellectually and emotionally. Good themes, more often than not, churn

What does it mean for a book to be a classic? When something is a classic, it has been judged over a long period of time and come to be considered one of the best of its kind. So a classic book is one that has tested time, teaches a lesson, entertains many audiences, and changes your perspective or values after reading the book. Some examples of classic books would be Moby Dick, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Hobbit. The Maltese Falcon, an exceptional book written by Dashiell Hammett, is filled with mystery, crime, and adventure. The Maltese Falcon should be a classic because the characters are very interesting, it makes the reader reconsider the acts of good and bad, and it was one of the first unique detective books.

   A classic literary work has been defined as a work "that lasts through generations because of its universality of theme, ageless symbolism, word choice and the ordering of detail."  A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway should be considered a classic literary work due to the universal themes, ageless symbolism, word choice, and story detail.

What makes a seemingly normal book a classic? Literary lenses. One of those classic books, Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds, shows the reader justice, difficult choices, and allows the reader to discover how it uses literary lenses to become a classic. By studying the novel through various literary lenses, the reader can see different perspectives which is important because it brings more depth and dimension, making Shiloh a children’s classic.

“A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say” -Italo Calvino. According to (dictionary.com) a classic is a book that is “something noteworthy of its kind and worth remembering”. There is multiple definitions of what a classic is but all of them say that the book still needs to be remembered for a long time after being finished. The book, 1984 by George Orwell is a classic book when analyzing the symbolism and figurative language used throughout the book.

“A Classic is a book that doesn’t have to be written again.” – W. E. B. Du Bois

Many old books compose the classical literature, which still influence nowadays writers. Many people work studying books from classical literature and school also teach students how to interpret the classics. Some of the appreciated books are Don Quixote, The Odyssey, Animal Farm, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, The Hobbit and many others. When reading Don Quixote and The Odyssey, the reader notice that the books have many similarities developed throughout the stories, such as fighting for love, fighting monsters and being structured in non-linear plot; however, as the stories are developed, specific detail shows how one story differs from the other.

Throughout history there has been many great authors that have created even greater works, and some people refer to these as classics. However, what truly makes an authors’ work a classic? “The idea of a classic implies something that has continuance and consistence, and which produces unity and tradition, and transmits itself, and endures.” “A true classic, is an author who has expressed his thought, and who has spoken to all in his own peculiar style” (Hutchins). Theodore Dreiser is the epitome of this very definition. Dreiser drew upon his upbringing, life experiences, and the situations of his family members and transformed these collective experiences into his very first novel, “Sister

There are a numerous amount of books that have been placed on the “classic” book list. Classical literature is generally associated with well-known novels, however, it is frequently a book that marks a turning point in history. Warriors Don’t Cry, written in the 1990’s, by Melba Pattillo Beals is scrutinized as a “classic” book because it incorporates morals and educational uses.

“A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say.” - Italo Calvino

Throughout history there has been many great authors that have created even greater works, and some people refer to these as classics. However, what truly makes an authors’ work a classic? “The idea of a classic implies something that has continuance and consistence, and which produces unity and tradition, and transmits itself, and endures.” “A true classic, is an author who has expressed his thought, and who has spoken to all in his own peculiar style” (Hutchins). Theodore Dreiser is the epitome of this very definition. Dreiser drew upon his upbringing, life experiences, and the situations of his family members and transformed these collective experiences into his very first novel, “Sister Carrie”. This specific piece of work is unlike any novel before it because it displays the idea of the “American Dream” in a completely different way in which no other author could do and as such it still stands as a very influential novel today.