\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Readers of Classics,<\/p>\n
The purpose of this on-line column is to \t\t\tencourage and enable readers who want to reclaim or to gain a \t\t\tknowledge of classic literature they may have missed. As a veteran \t\t\tteacher of this literature, I will suggest reading, make brief \t\t\texpository comments, offer subjects for discussion or contemplation, \t\t\tand gladly communicate with you via e-mail should you have \t\t\tquestions. Beyond that, this is simply offered as a tool to \t\t\tfacilitate your grasp of classic literature.<\/p>\n
A few clarifications are necessary: Classic \t\t\tliterature is by definition that which contains standard elements, \t\t\tuniversal themes, and plausible characters. Because I believe that a \t\t\ttrue classic must contain the standard elements of literature and \t\t\tdevelop plausible themes and viable characters, much written \t\t\tmaterial of the last century will not qualify. That doesn\u2019t mean \t\t\tthat there aren\u2019t works I may suggest worth your time to read. I \t\t\tjust won\u2019t classify them with the classic works necessary to a \t\t\twell-rounded reader.<\/p>\n
You will also find that really enjoying and \t\t\tunderstanding some of these works of literature requires that you \t\t\thave readily available a good Webster\u2019s Collegiate Dictionary, a \t\t\tWorld Atlas, and a Bible Atlas or one of the \u201cOld World\u201d Atlases. I \t\t\thave found some of the best Atlases at used book stores and flea \t\t\tmarkets. I recommend the Webster\u2019s Collegiate<\/em> Dictionary \t\t\tbecause it gives the etymology of words that many do not. In \t\t\tunderstanding the nuance of an author\u2019s word, the origin is often \t\t\tnecessary as is the archaic meaning, also given by Webster.<\/p>\n Until the dawn of the Enlightenment and the \t\t\tatheism of Darwin, the Bible was the primary textbook of most every \t\t\tstudent and author. Many, many allusions to the Bible exist in \t\t\tclassic literature (unless you buy new abridged versions [such as Robinson Crusoe<\/span>] where all biblical references are removed). If \t\t\tone really studies Shakespeare, he can observe nearly every precept \t\t\tof the Bible somewhere in one of the Bard\u2019s works. A good \t\t\tconcordance and reference Bible will therefore be handy.<\/p>\n One of the most disappointing discoveries I have \t\t\thad in the last decade is the revelation of the uselessness of the \t\t\t\u201cinformation super highway\u201d or the internet. While there is some \t\t\taccurate and helpful information there, the majority of text on the \t\t\tinternet is highly inaccurate, mundanely written, and sifted to the \t\t\tlowest common denominator in its educational content. Much agenda \t\t\texists as does subtle advertising guised as educational information. \t\t\tKeep in mind that it must aim to the reading majority which mandates \t\t\ta national reading average of about a fourth grade level. I say this \t\t\tto encourage you not to make it your primary source for exposition \t\t\tof literature you will be reading. Get a library card and become \t\t\tfriends with the reference desk personnel.<\/p>\n Note<\/span>: I have listed the reading in the \t\t\tchronological study order I suggest so that any one at any time may \t\t\tbegin the reading schedule by simply following the order. This order \t\t\twill also help reveal to you the transitions occurring in history \t\t\tand society\u2019s shifts in philosophy that brings us to the current \t\t\tage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Reclaiming the Classics \u00a0 by Debra Conley \u00a0 Readers of Classics, The purpose of this on-line column is to encourage and enable readers who want to reclaim or to gain a knowledge of classic literature they may have missed. As a veteran teacher of this literature, I will suggest reading, make brief expository comments, offer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n