What Makes a Classic?

The Bell Jar definitely deserves to be called a classic. The author succeeded in making it a great book but it is what is behind a book that makes it worth reading, otherwise it is just another story. Sylvia Plath was able to use her life to base what the story is about. It not only takes writing skill to give your life story but also

It crushed Tom’s high spirits when he learned that sadly, Jim was captured and chained. He was furious that they would not set Jim free and that he should rightfully be free.

How does one define a classic movie? Is it based off its actors, its ending, or maybe the time period in which it was filmed in? In certain aspects, the definition takes into account all of those qualities and more. Ben Moore-Bridger, an author for Vaguardi, describes a classic as "an influential and powerful piece of film-making which will last and be recognized as important and perhaps even be seen as ground-breaking in years to come" (Moore par.2). There's no doubt that a dictionary containing that definition would follow with 'See: Casablanca' for a reference.

It joins the ranks of many of the classics of world literature such as Melville’s Moby Dick and Tolstoy’s War and Peace (Source J).When one reads a list of the most common, it may be noted that the majority of the list comprises many of the great American classics that are read by schoolchildren worldwide. This correlation suggests that many of the great novels and stories in world history are controversial, which raises the question whether a text being controversial helps it garner more attention and acclaim. Though correlation isn’t always true, it can be said that many of the great novels of our time have been controversial. With this thought in mind, is it really a good idea to change these greats to make them fit our ideas at the time? Most will agree that these novels define classic literature, yet there are increasingly ignored and removed from our public

It is no coincidence that the novel To Kill a Mockingbird has sold over 30 million copies and is being read throughout most of high school still today. While some critics like Allen Barra believe the novel does not teach anything more than the obvious, To Kill a Mockingbird depicts much more than general themes of racism; there are moral values taught that stand as testaments of the time. Although students are reading the novel over fifty years after the publication, it perfectly epitomizes the time period of the 1930’s. Secondly, “timeless classic” novels have broad themes which cause wide appeal.

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.

veryone can remember the dark days back in high school when the teacher pulled out some musty, old book called it a “classic” and then forced the entire class to read it. You probably remember sitting there wondering why this cruel punishment was inflicted upon you, this book doesn’t hold any relevance today! Or does it? Classics have timeless characters, plots and underlying messages that we can still identify with today because history may not repeat itself but human nature certainly does. Novels such as Great Expectations, Lolita, Swiss Family Robinson and Tess of the D’Urbervilles show us

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

Literature is an artistic representation of culture, used all over the world to provide an in depth lens on societies and time periods. Literature can be used as a piece of history, revealing personal experiences regarding these significant events and feelings; yet literature is always changing and evolving with the passing of time. As Sam Sacks points out in Cannon-Fodder: Denouncing the Classics, “Authors are anointed not because they are great (although many of them are) but because they are important. In other words, the current criteria for classics are more a matter of sociology than of aesthetics.” It is not a matter of whether or not a book is generally liked or a “fun read”, but rather its impact on society, that deems it a “classic”.

There are different forms and examples of exemplary and classic literature which have been deemed as significant works that are highly esteemed worldwide. These examples of literature would awe the world with how much literary skill they entailed when they were composed and written: attention to details as to formation of characters, the most crafty of plots, the most eloquent speeches and lines, the most astounding of twists of scenes, and most of all, the most universal and meaningful of themes. The theme of any literary work is what makes it great as it should be able to encompass the immense diversity of the world and as it would be able to transcend the boundaries of religion, age, race, gender, etc. Two examples of this great and

Throughout time, there have been innumerable poems, short stories, novels, etc. that have left lasting impressions on the literary world. Many have been deemed classics or even received prizes honoring the authenticity and brilliance in their writing. On the other hand, some have not been proclaimed as classics and we beg to differ. I have read many classics and to me, a work is worthy to be deemed a classic if it is timeless. Timeless meaning that no matter by whom, where, when the work is read it still evokes the same feelings, perceptions, and lessons. They also provide insight to a culture, society, religion, country, etc. that we wouldn’t typically have from the outside looking in. They counteract the stereotypes that outsiders procreate of something that they have never intimately experienced. Keeping that in mind, my classical nomination is the Bestseller The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is regarded as one of the best works in American literature, but does this mean that the book should be considered a timeless classic? This novel is about a young girl named Scout who is growing up in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930’s, a time of extreme racism and discrimination. The story centers around a trial where Scout’s father, Atticus, must defend an African American man accused of raping a white woman. In order for a book to be considered a timeless classic, it must include characters that are both dynamic and relatable to the readers. A dynamic character is one that changes in personality or attitude, making them seem more realistic and authentic. Being relatable is another crucial

Another downfall that happened to Tom has to do with his family. When Tom was sold, he became separated from his family. Although his family was gone, Tom believed God would help him throughout his journey and he would be reunited with them in heaven. Tom sustained a positive attitude and held true to his principles that God provides. Evangeline falling into the river and Tom rescuing her showed triumph in the midst of suffering. Tom showed great character by helping someone in need just as God has done for him. Tom did this act on instinct not on thought. Tom knew what the right thing to do was even if that meant putting himself in the face of danger. After Tom was bought by the Saint Clare’s, Eva had died and Marie decided to sell all of the slaves against Eva’s will. Tom was sold to a man who owns a cotton plantation in New Orleans. Tom faces his biggest challenge that will test his faith, character and moral principles. A man named Simon Legree owns the plantation and makes it known to all slaves. If a slave does not get enough cotton on the fields one day he beats them. One day Tom was working in the fields and noticed a girl named Lucy who was struggling to pick cotton. Tom snuck

The first quality a classic must posses are universal themes. The Lightning Thief looks at two co-existing worlds: the mortal world (the world as we know it) and the immortal world (the world of the gods). Similarly we look at the mortal world as rational thinkers, while the immortal world are religious. Percy Jackson learns that there are different versions of reality in the world, and that "reality" is just the way people choose to interpret a situation. For example, if thunderstorms wage on for a couple of weeks, the mortal world understands it as bad weather that has went on longer than usual and nothing more, while the immortal world interprets the thunderstorms as a sign of discontent between the Gods. In our world the rationalized

A classic novel is a novel that can bring back memories even though you’ve never read it, it’s a novel that no matter how many times it has been read there is always a sense of discovery in the reader's mind. A true classic never goes away, no matter how long ago it was written,In in the words of Italo Calvino, a famous Italian journalist and author from the 1950’s, “A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say.” This further proves the idea that a classic novel is a book or novel that is never really over, or put down by readers. Another quote from Italo Calvino’s book, “Why Read The Classics??”, “The classics are books which exercise a particular influence, both when they imprint themselves on our imagination as