I believe that a classic typically endures because it is about a character experiencing something unique to the time period, for instance; George Orwell, Animal Farm. This story is representative of Communist Russia, and I believe it is a classic because of these references to what is going on in the world. A classic can be about someone doing something significantly brave in their lives, but not nescessarily something significant in the lives of the people surrounding them. I think that a book can endure when it is different from what else is available at that moment. when it has a unique writing style and does not follow the latest (ahem, vampire) trends. something forbidden; a forbidden love, a forbidden freedom are the trends I find in the literature I read, or experience through the media. A story can be popular even if it uses common aspects, just as long as it does it differently. I feel that there are many people who will not recieve something different well, but negative popularity is necessary to be well known. The rest respect things that are different because they wish they could have the strength to be different themselves.
I do not think that the book I am reading, the Hunger Games, has what it takes to become a classic. A classic is a book that is completely unique in its field (typically), and is relatable. The Hunger Games-though by far the best I've read-is not alone, there are many other books with similar ideas. Also, love triangles are always a pattern, but are found even more commonly at the moment, so any book with one in it appears cliche.
Excellent insight! I think that you are right in acknowledging that being unique is an aspect of classic literature. When there are too many stories telling the exact same thing, you may drown the similar stories out simply because you are bored of the predictable events. These books do NOT last. A book that Shannon posted on was written with journal entries and letters. This gives a new view to readers, letting them get into the minds of the characters in a unique way. Yes, it's about Dracula, but that's the classic vampire. He's the paradigm of vampires in 1897!
ReplyDeleteTess, I think this is a good discussion about what makes a classic and why certain things are classic, but it might help if you added a definition.
ReplyDelete"I think that a book can endure when it is different from what else is available at that moment. when it has a unique writing style and does not follow the latest (ahem, vampire) trends." I disagree, these are just "trends", and something that is really different can sometimes be really disliked. This isn't always true of course.
I really like how you included why you think unique literature is popular.