Every American student who had to sit through English class from Kindergarten to 12th grade knows the usual suspects: “Romeo and Juliet,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Great Gatsby,” “Fahrenheit 451” and more. Don’t get me wrong, these novels are extraordinary and have their place as some of the best novels written, but I think […]
Tag: Classics
Which Modern Books Could Be Considered Classics?
What makes a “classic” novel such as “The Great Gatsby,” “The Catcher in the Rye,” and “To Kill a Mockingbird”? A classic novel must be able to stand the test of time with its complex characters and themes. It must remain relevant across different eras and continue to be read long after publication. Classic novels […]
The Resurrection of Classic Plays: The Significance of Old Stories
Classic plays continue to have a special place on stage in the dynamic world of theater, where fresh voices and modern stories are being told all the time. Plays by classic writers like Ibsen, Chekhov, and Shakespeare are being revived in theaters all around the world. But what is it about these ancient tales that […]
Should classics still be taught in public schools? (Op-Ed)
The Catcher in the Rye, Frankenstein, Lord of the Flies… Sorry. Dozed off for a second. We all know the classics, we all hear about how ‘great’ they are. But, let’s be honest, upon reading the, did they ever live up to the hype? For me, the answer was, usually, no. Don’t get me wrong, […]
Why classic movies are really comforting (Op-Ed)
In a world where high-definition images and cutting-edge special effects are everywhere, nothing beats kicking back with a classic film. These classic films made decades ago have a special way of taking us back in time to a simpler era and showing us how far we’ve come as a species. The depiction of life’s simplicity in classic […]
Are “The Classics” Still Important, or Simply Outdated?
It’s likely you read at least one “classic novel” if not more during your time as a high school student. At 16 years old, it is also likely you found some if not all of them to be boring and difficult to understand. Students often read famous works like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet or The Great Gatsby. Some argue that these stories show how the English language has evolved or tell important lessons we can’t find anywhere else. However, what’s really so priceless about a 13-year-old girl being manipulated into a suicide pact with a man 4 years her senior? Or a man who is so delusional and obsessed with a woman he’s never met that he throws extravagant parties each night in hopes she will attend? More importantly, could it be found in a book that would keep the attention of students better?
