Literary Criticism

The Indispensable Value of Reading Literary Classics in Full

2024-08-30

The value of reading a literary classic in its entirety, rather than a mere summary, hinges on a reader’s purpose. For those seeking to gain a profound understanding of society and human nature, the meticulous study of a primary text is indispensable. This approach is rooted in a fundamental…

Literary Criticism

The Art of Scale and Dialogue in the Novel

2024-06-25

Two of the most common complaints about novels concern their length and the perceived unrealism of their dialogue. Yet, these criticisms often misunderstand the very nature of the novel as an art form. Length is not a measure of a novel’s quality or even its genre, and fictional dialogue is…

Literary Criticism

The Two Meanings of "Classic": From Ancient Style to Modern Masterpieces

2024-02-08

The term “classic” has a dual meaning rooted in its Latin origin, Classicus, which initially referred to a member of the “first class” of citizens. In Western languages, the word “classic” can either denote works from ancient Greece and Rome or refer to any work…