LITR 4328:
American Renaissance
        

Model Assignments
Final Exam Essays 2016
assignment
Sample answers for
C4. Classic, Popular, & Representative Literature

 

Bradley Tarpey

The Hierarchy of Literature

          An interesting trend that finds itself reoccurring in human nature is our desire to rank and separate similar things into their own separate categories. This desire for hierarchy finds itself as common place in nearly all walks of life, and one that I wish to analyze is its presence in the world of literature. Scholars of the literary world have separated literature into three categories: classic, popular, and representative. The goal of this informal split is to separate works of literature from pieces that are to be enjoyed, and pieces to be appreciated. Although this differentiation is undoubtedly insulting to some works, this separation does serve an applicable purpose in dividing works into sections so that deeper discussions can be had over what it is that separates works within the family of literature. This separation presents a question: can a classical work be pleasurable? And can a “flash in the pan” style work be appreciated for its deeper observations? By looking at each classification in a more detailed manner, we will delve deeper into what warrants that section of literature its respective title, and see if it is possible for a work to be both instructing and entertaining.

          In a fitting beginning, we will first observe classical literature. Classical literature primarily serves as a source of education, with entertainment often times taking a backseat. The works are often older and throughout time have found themselves in a canonical status within the world of literature. These classical works are often defined by their ability to stand above the test of time, with their messages and themes not being bound to the era that they were written in. With this being assumed, it then be said that classical works are often revered for their glimpse into the timeless qualities of the human experience. One such example of a classical work is Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Nature.” “Nature” is not timeless due to Emerson’s argument for Transcendentalism, but instead for the ideas that Emerson presents to the reader to live a life beyond oneself, engulfed in the world and nature that surrounds them. This argument can be made and appreciated even now, it is not bound by the world that Emerson wrote his work in. It is this quality that defines classical literature, a timeless tool that is used to educate.

          Next, we will look to popular literature. This subsection of literature is recognizable for its ability to be enjoyed, without ever having to consider its deeper meanings. This type of literature often times is plagued by a short life span, once it has fallen from the public eye it fades into irrelevance. This fade into irrelevance presents a challenge when observing popular works of literature from the American Renaissance, as for it to still be available today it must have had some classical characteristics. It is this dilemma that exposes the bridge that exists between classical and popular, as there are times where a popular work can grow to become classical. Two such examples of this are the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. In the case of Poe, his poems could be criticized for having a formulaic approach, or for being merely sensationalized fodder for enjoyment. As time progressed, Poe’s work became appreciated and eventually has found himself in the world of classical literature. Our other author who made this jump is Stowe. With slave narratives being a hot commodity during the time period, Uncle Tom’s Cabin appeared to fit in to the latest trend. As we discovered in our in-class presentation, Uncle Tom’s Cabin experienced a level of success that I personally did not know was possible for that time period. Although as time passed, with Stowe’s work reaching such a wide audience, Uncle Tom’s Cabin would go on to influence the opinions of so many people against slavery that it has become a classical piece of literature due to its historical significance. In both of these examples, these popular and enjoyable works eventually grew to a status where they could also be used as instruction. Due to their enjoyment, they were able to reach a much wider audience than the traditional classical literature, and thus had a significant impact on the world.

          Finally, we have the representative literature. These works are characterized by the narrow audience that they are read by and effect. They are normally written by a member of an underrepresented community, and as such are written with that audience in mind. One strength of representative literature is strongly outlined by Dorothy Noyes in her 2012 final exam when she writes, “By reading representative literature by authors like Frederic Douglass or Sojourner Truth we are not only reading the words of influential minorities, but are reading a reflection of the human condition, and a journey involving struggles and pain, but ultimate fulfillment.” (Noyes) Noyes articulately illustrates the passion that representative literature is often written with. Representative literature often times serves as a common voice amongst a group of individuals who must struggle to even be heard. This phenomenon often times creates an opportunity where representative literature can blend into the world of classical or popular. Where some causes fizzle out and die, the representative literature can more closely resemble popular to a certain crowd. Whereas in other cases, representative literature can stand as classical literature to some communities, while others communities never even know it existed.

          Classical, popular, and representative literature all hold a meaningful place in the literary world. If the purpose of literature is to both entertain and educate, these self-imposed classifications provide a way to easily differentiate between works. Where most of the strife comes from in these divides is the idea that popular literature is somehow lesser literature. This is not a feeling that I subscribe to, each classification of literature is a positive in their own ways. Literature is a device that can be experienced in a variety of ways, each having their own merit. Classical literature can help one develop a greater understanding of the world and of themselves. While popular literature gives the reader the ability to relax and enjoy a work that captivates their imagination. Finally, representative literature gives the reader a glimpse into a point of view that they had not previously experienced, a moment that is rarely anything but a positive. Ultimately, these three classifications provide a concise way to divide one of mankind’s greatest inventions, literature.