The Literary Canon.
What comes to mind when I say 'The Literary Canon'? There are usually two different things that spring to people's minds:
What comes to mind when I say 'The Literary Canon'? There are usually two different things that spring to people's minds:
But which one is right?
This is something which has been argued again and again by so many different people.
This is something which has been argued again and again by so many different people.
You get the idea.
So many people have so many things to say about the Literary Canon and such a wide variety of people think such different things about it. But what should we think? What really is the problem with the Literary Canon, and why is it a problem at all?
So many people have so many things to say about the Literary Canon and such a wide variety of people think such different things about it. But what should we think? What really is the problem with the Literary Canon, and why is it a problem at all?
Let's start by talking about having a rich reading diet.
NOVEL VEGETABLES: Have a lot and have a good variety.
ARTICLES, ESSAYS, POEMS AND PLAYS FRUITS: Eat plenty of them of all different colours.
NON-FICTION WHOLE GRAINS: Bulky nutrition.
PERSONAL CHOICE HEALTHY PROTEIN: Have lots of your own personal favourite, as long as its healthy.
RE-READS WATER: Top up on books you love regularly.
EASY CHILDREN'S BOOKS HEALTHY OIL: Lubricate your mind with easy reads, as long as they're healthy.
STAY ACTIVE: Don't just eat - burn of the calories by thinking and talking about books, doing things, writing and learning from the things you have read. There's no point eating it all if you're not going to do anything with it.
Some things to think about:
Keep reading - you don't want to be hungry.
You don't have to wait until lunch time - snack of your favourites, too!
Maybe even try your hand at writing - what ingredients go together? How are you going to make your 'meal' healthy for the 'eater'?
What is your reading 'ideal meal'?
Which of these looks tastiest to you?
ARTICLES, ESSAYS, POEMS AND PLAYS FRUITS: Eat plenty of them of all different colours.
NON-FICTION WHOLE GRAINS: Bulky nutrition.
PERSONAL CHOICE HEALTHY PROTEIN: Have lots of your own personal favourite, as long as its healthy.
RE-READS WATER: Top up on books you love regularly.
EASY CHILDREN'S BOOKS HEALTHY OIL: Lubricate your mind with easy reads, as long as they're healthy.
STAY ACTIVE: Don't just eat - burn of the calories by thinking and talking about books, doing things, writing and learning from the things you have read. There's no point eating it all if you're not going to do anything with it.
Some things to think about:
Keep reading - you don't want to be hungry.
You don't have to wait until lunch time - snack of your favourites, too!
Maybe even try your hand at writing - what ingredients go together? How are you going to make your 'meal' healthy for the 'eater'?
What is your reading 'ideal meal'?
Which of these looks tastiest to you?
Or, if you're like me....
EVERYTHING - I'm starving!
But, to get back to the point -
We should all have a rich reading diet, and we should not feel restricted in any way as to what we should and shouldn't eat. As with food, there will be some books which you absolutely hate and others will love, whereas you might like one style written in a particular way but not the other, in the same way you might like roasted tomatoes but not raw ones. You might be a fussy-eater; you might have an acquired taste; you might be addicted on puddings because they're easy and give you a sugar rush, though they are, perhaps, not so good for your diet and shelf digestion.
What I'm getting at is the fact that we should all try new things, even if we don't like them. We should also all read a variety of 'meals' with as many different 'nutrients' as possible. This includes older books which were famous in their time (such as those from the Literary Canon) balanced by modern books written by authors of all walks of life.
Don't just eat the things you know you will like, and don't judge others who have different tastes to you - and, above all, keep you diet healthy!
EVERYTHING - I'm starving!
But, to get back to the point -
We should all have a rich reading diet, and we should not feel restricted in any way as to what we should and shouldn't eat. As with food, there will be some books which you absolutely hate and others will love, whereas you might like one style written in a particular way but not the other, in the same way you might like roasted tomatoes but not raw ones. You might be a fussy-eater; you might have an acquired taste; you might be addicted on puddings because they're easy and give you a sugar rush, though they are, perhaps, not so good for your diet and shelf digestion.
What I'm getting at is the fact that we should all try new things, even if we don't like them. We should also all read a variety of 'meals' with as many different 'nutrients' as possible. This includes older books which were famous in their time (such as those from the Literary Canon) balanced by modern books written by authors of all walks of life.
Don't just eat the things you know you will like, and don't judge others who have different tastes to you - and, above all, keep you diet healthy!
Steps for the Healthy Reader:
1. Try new things all the time
2. 'Exercise' your knowledge after reading - don't let it sit their, doing no good
3. Try to 'cook' for others - give them balanced recommendations
4. Use your 'cooking' and 'eating' skills in other areas of your life - you'll be surprised about how useful they are.
And, if you're finding this difficult, or if your book is a little challenging, try some of these suggestions...
1. Try new things all the time
2. 'Exercise' your knowledge after reading - don't let it sit their, doing no good
3. Try to 'cook' for others - give them balanced recommendations
4. Use your 'cooking' and 'eating' skills in other areas of your life - you'll be surprised about how useful they are.
And, if you're finding this difficult, or if your book is a little challenging, try some of these suggestions...
And, to finish off, a few thoughts before you go...
“I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
“I have a passion for teaching kids to become readers, to become comfortable with a book, not daunted. Books shouldn’t be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful; and learning to be a reader gives a terrific advantage.” – Roald Dahl
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