When somebody mentions “literature,” what’s the first thing you think of? (Dickens? Tolstoy? Shakespeare?)
Do you read “literature” (however you define it) for pleasure? Or is it something that you read only when you must?
I do think of the "classics" when I hear the word literature. I'm taken back to my AP English class in high school and our dissection of books for themes and ideas etc...
I have to admit I shy away from the classics as I find them difficult to read. Probably because I'll be waiting to get out my fine tooth comb and start inspecting every little aspect of them as I had to do since 7th grade...some habits die hard. I probably should give them another chance since I'm much older now and can simply read them to enjoy the story.
13 comments:
Yes I didn't like the detailed analysis at school either. I enjoy the classics more now.
I'm the opposite! I liked the classics when we studied them in school. I suppose it had something to do with the fact that majority of my teachers had a way of making the discussion and analysis interesting. Nowadays, I prefer light reading, and rarely read classics.
Classics and literature are different animals, IMHO. Literature can be applied to modern works as well, and has a very negative "feel" to me. So serious and depressing! LOL...
Happy BTT.
I should have a t-shirt that says: "I'll read anything."
I agree with Chris! I read anything!
Here is my BTT post!
I'll at least try to read anything - I won't finish it if I'm not enjoying it.
well, to literature is different than what is known as Classic English Literature. To me it does go beyond there. I agree with you though, the classics are hard to get through.
Anyway, read my answer...tell me what you think.
Have a great Thursday!!!
I loved the analysis we did at school and have gone on enjoying it. What a good job we are all different. How boring it would be otherwise.
I do enjoy hearing the differences. It would be boring if we were all the same.
LOL at "I'll read anything!"
I think we've held on to some books for too long. If it's not readable, then why bother!
There are a lot of classics I HATED. I couldn't stomach Melville. I hate George Eliot and Thomas Hardy. And I despise Hemingway!!
But I read Austen and Dickens for fun. It's a lot more work reading them than a standard modern book, I have to read them slowly. But that's part of the pleasure.
A lot of classics work very well if you listen to them as audio books. And the BBC has done a lot of full cast dramatizations that are done by top notch actors, and can inspire you to read the whole book!
I too think of classics when I hear "literature". Our school syllabus didn't have any classics for us to read (or dissect) but I still stay away from them. It's probably because of the language that sounds so different.
I also have a mental association between "literature" and "classics" but I found out early on that reading a classic outside of a classroom is somehow very different than reading the same book for a class (which may mean I should try reading Dickens on my own now - I might actually like him.) Not to mention that my classes never really took any book apart the way we probably should have so I ended up loving most classics.
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