Great Literature - Some Things Never Change :: Literature Essays Literary Criticism

Great Literature - Some Things Never Change Great literature is a book or piece of literature that passes through the ages and allows the reader to identify with the characters. Another element that makes great literature are morals that fit with each passing generation. The last element of great literature is heroism. An example of literature that passes through the ages is Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. By not attaching current stereotypes and standards to characters, Holden Caulfield is a timeless character. Each generation that has read the book has been able to identify with his antics. Lashing out at his teachers and assuming sundry identities to fit in is a common thing among adolescents. Writing about problems that regular people encounter is another way literature goes from one generation to the next. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a boy's struggle against society's standards. Most young men rebel against society and any form of authority. Running away from home and problems is a thought most adolescents consider. Morals that pass from one generation to another are important in literature. A literary example is The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne. Most of the morals contained in the book are religious. Being faithful to a spouse has always been an important moral, especially in Puritan New England where adultery was considered as heinous as murder. Even thought adulterous spouses aren't looked down upon now as severely as in Puritan New England, it is one thing that is still taught consistently in church and in the home as being bad. Another literary example is The Odyssey by Homer. More heroic and hardworking morals are presented in the epic poem. Work hard and you will obtain what you want or desire and good will always triumph over evil are the main morals in the epic poem. The last element that makes great literature is heroism. Although the character may be fighting ancient gods, demons, monsters, or his or her own destiny, a reader is able to scale down the size of the fight and apply it to his or her life.