By Lorraine Curry No matter when the work was written, to be considered a classic it will speak to our hearts today as much as it spoke to hearts of those long since gone from this earth. The human truths portrayed in classics are eternal, and make the work “eternal.” Rather than fading, these truths shine with growing brightness, but only to those who continue to hold truth in this modern day. Moreover, real literature has a creative touch. A good writer brings us into the story and setting, by words and phrases that play on our senses as well as our heart. Some works have such force, clarity and brilliance that we know only an artist could have created them. Such is the case with the polished gems of Thomas Gray’s Elegy… and William Cullen Bryant’s Thanatopsis. Because the originator of a great work is its artist, we choose original works. In cases where the original work is in another language,we look to another creative master to translate. Some writers who have rewritten foreign language classics are Scott, Macaulay, Dickens, Kingsley (Greek Heroes), Hawthorne (Wonder Book, Tanglewood Tales) and Irving. The purpose of great literature is not to assimilate style, grammar or form, or even to appreciate literature as art—although all of these result from the use of literature. Rather, literature’s ultimate purpose is morality—to produce God-fearing children and adults. When we turn our eyes toward this goal, education will have meaning and this goal will also motivate toward excellence in all subjects. Charles McMurray tells us: Intense study of motives and conduct, as offered in literature, is like a fresh spring from which well up healing waters. The warmth and energy with which judgments are passed upon the deeds of children and adults is the original source of moral ideas. Literature is especially rich in opportunities to register these convictions. It is not bare knowledge of right and wrong developed, but deep springs of feeling and emotion opened, which gush up into volitions and acts. The vast store of early literature is moral literature. With genuine literature, we are lifted into the presence of men and women who incite the moral nature. Through literature, convictions arise naturally. No contrived or enforced morals here. The child, rather, becomes one with the hero or heroine. In this identification process, enhanced by the vividness of story, moral judgments are formed in the child. The great advantage of this indirect teaching is that it is received by the child, whereas preaching—especially without supporting prayer—often falls on a deaf ear. The emotions portrayed in great literature are our emotions, and literature’s effectiveness comes about by the like-mindedness of those characters of literature and ourselves in this day. Right feeling and actions are strengthened by seeing these feelings and actions in others. Stories are effective because of their drama and interest. We see the characters’ actions and then, moving on in the story, we see the results of the actions—good or bad. As interest in the character’s life increases, the force of a false step or right act moves the hearer to make right choices in his or her life. Could it be that the widespread and increasing lack of character in our world today has been partly because of the lack of real literature in education? |