In English class, students are often handed classics like To Kill a Mockingbird or The Great Gatsby, but what are classics, and why do schools insist students read them? Classics are books that have stood the test of time because of their exceptional artistic quality and lasting cultural influence.
Classics can be a window into the past. Despite their age, readers can still gain an understanding of themselves, their lives, and their worlds from these stories because of their universal themes.
However, what should one do when classics are too hard to understand? To many, classics can be a tough read. It’s best to acknowledge that reading a classic is not like reading a regular book. One has to be alert and sharp with a brain that is not turned “off.” Trying to read a story like Wuthering Heights while dozing in bed is a classic mistake. Stay with the story. Don‘t read for five minutes and then close the book–get into the rhythm and mood.
Additionally, it’s important that a reader doesn’t gloss over words they don’t understand. Quickly searching up the meaning can not only help improve vocabulary, but it can also be crucial when trying to understand a passage. When skipping over difficult words, readers often lose key details that are important for the book’s plot.
Picking a solid starting point is also important. Don’t pick the voluminous and complicated The Brothers Kamarazov or War and Peace, as those books might only lead to feeling overwhelmed. Instead, opt for the easier classics such as Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury or Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.
The classics encompass a wide range of diverse literary works, so there are numerous options from which to choose when deciding which ones to read first. Outside the Western scope, notable classic authors include Eileen Chang, Gabriel García Márquez, Chinua Achebe, and many others. There is also a vast array of genres: horror, philosophy, romance, politics, dystopian, and so on.
Classics force readers to pause, be patient, and think critically. Engaging with these timeless works can be deeply rewarding. The only thing left to do is to decide to leap into the world of classics, and forget the dread of starting a seemingly daunting book.
