When you first think of the works of Charles Dickens, J.D. Salinger, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the other classical authors of the world, what comes to your mind? Do you think of monotonous books and contents that are impossible to comprehend? Classic literature is defined as a book written in either Greek or Latin, or a model of its form.
I started reading classic literature in the seventh grade; in fact, the first classical book I ever read was Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This book was not an easy one to read and it took me longer than usual to finish the book. The author used vocabulary that I had neither read nor heard of before, topics that I had never thought about, and symbolism that I had to deeply reflect upon to figure out the meanings. However, after I was done with the book, I realized that it was the best book I had ever read. This was a book that was published in 1852 and is still considered by many as one of the greatest and most powerful books in American history. In my opinion, this is what a classic is, and although understanding classical literature may be harder than understanding the Twilight series, the rewards can last a lifetime.
Multiple benefits can be derived from these timeless books. The classics can increase a reader’s vocabulary skills by exposing words that aren’t commonly used today. Classic authors also write about events and the culture during specific periods in history, therefore expanding readers’ perspective about history and culture. These benefits can help distinguish readers and even give them an advantage when applying for universities or jobs. According to a Jenkins Group Survey, 42% of college students will never read another book after graduating. This is unfortunate considering how much stronger one’s opinions, vocabulary, reading skills, and writing skills can be with the advantage of having read classical literature.
If these benefits are not enough, think of how the modern day would be without these pieces of literature. When Abraham Lincoln first met Harriet Beecher Stowe, he said, “So you’re the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war.”
The book Stowe wrote (Uncle Tom’s Cabin) had an influence in the U.S. at the start of anti-slavery movements in the North. There are many other authors that made a difference in the world by voicing their opinions. Classic literature even influences popular culture through the film industry. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, an Academy Award winning film, was originally a short story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1921. The movies Pride and Prejudice; Wuthering Heights; Romeo and Juliet; O, Brother Where Art Thou, and many others have been produced due to the popularity of the classic books that they are based on.
The classics in literature will last a long time, if not forever in the U.S. or the world. The Odyssey, for example, was written in the years of the B.C. period and is still referred to and read today by people all over the world. The classic pieces of literature preserve pieces of history that otherwise might not be shared and known by future generations. For example, authors who experienced hardships and life lessons firsthand have shared their part of history in their work, as Scott Fitzgerald does in his book, This Side of Paradise. The classics are books that will provide a reader with knowledge about the past, vocabulary building, uniqueness that is not found in modern day books, and enjoyment for all readers.