Are classic books still relevant in today's world?

[Heidi M Simone]

Since times have changed quite a bit over the years, I thought it would be interesting to explore if books that are considered classics still hold a place in today’s youth.

Should students be required to read books that are considered classics? Are they still relevant in today’s world? Can today’s children understand these books in order to make them meaningful?

What do you think?

[gali]

I think classics books are still relevant and students should be required to read them. Not only do they open a window to the past, but they also explore timeless themes such as identity, belonging, human motivation, and love. The language usage may be unfamiliar to a modern audience, but people don't change...

[Heidi M Simone]

I think classics books are still relevant and students should be required to read them. Not only do they open a window to the past, but they also explore timeless themes such as identity, belonging, human motivation, and love. The language usage may be unfamiliar to a modern audience, but people don't change...

That's a good point! I think some are worthwhile to read for sure. I think it would depend on the students' reading abilities and the classic book that is chosen to read, but I do think that classics still have a place in today's world too. (As a fun FYI - one of our friends got us The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Nutcracker baby boards books for our little one who's coming next month, so we'll be starting with classics pretty early on )

You're right, the language use may not be as familiar, but people and their behaviors don't change...for better or for worse...

[gali]

I think classics books are still relevant and students should be required to read them. Not only do they open a window to the past, but they also explore timeless themes such as identity, belonging, human motivation, and love. The language usage may be unfamiliar to a modern audience, but people don't change...

That's a good point! I think some are worthwhile to read for sure. I think it would depend on the students' reading abilities and the classic book that is chosen to read, but I do think that classics still have a place in today's world too. (As a fun FYI - one of our friends got us The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Nutcracker baby boards books for our little one who's coming next month, so we'll be starting with classics pretty early on )

You're right, the language use may not be as familiar, but people and their behaviors don't change...for better or for worse...

You are expecting? Congratulations!

[Julie-p]

Definitively. Classic books are taught in school and have become in some way, general knowledge. They carry important lessons on human behavior, flaws, and identity. You even have some classics that transcended specifics cultures and have become humanity classics and are known everywhere in the world like The Art of War, Oedipus Rex, Hamlet.
Some classics should be read to children like Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but others aren't really supposed to be read by teenagers and children. I had to read Animal Farm for school when I was 14 and I liked the criticism and the lessons that can be learned, but I now I feel like I would have enjoyed and understood it more if I had read it years later. School sometimes pushes classics into teenagers who aren't a public who enjoy that kind of book, and the only result that it has is ending up with a lot of adults who don't like reading.

[Heidi M Simone]

I think classics books are still relevant and students should be required to read them. Not only do they open a window to the past, but they also explore timeless themes such as identity, belonging, human motivation, and love. The language usage may be unfamiliar to a modern audience, but people don't change...

That's a good point! I think some are worthwhile to read for sure. I think it would depend on the students' reading abilities and the classic book that is chosen to read, but I do think that classics still have a place in today's world too. (As a fun FYI - one of our friends got us The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Nutcracker baby boards books for our little one who's coming next month, so we'll be starting with classics pretty early on )

You're right, the language use may not be as familiar, but people and their behaviors don't change...for better or for worse...

You are expecting? Congratulations!

Yes, we're expecting a little boy. We're excited to meet our little guy! Thank you!

[gali]

That's a good point! I think some are worthwhile to read for sure. I think it would depend on the students' reading abilities and the classic book that is chosen to read, but I do think that classics still have a place in today's world too. (As a fun FYI - one of our friends got us The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Nutcracker baby boards books for our little one who's coming next month, so we'll be starting with classics pretty early on )

You're right, the language use may not be as familiar, but people and their behaviors don't change...for better or for worse...

You are expecting? Congratulations!

Yes, we're expecting a little boy. We're excited to meet our little guy! Thank you!

It is exciting! He is your first, right? I am happy for you!

[Peyton4]

Definitively. Classic books are taught in school and have become in some way, general knowledge. They carry important lessons on human behavior, flaws, and identity. You even have some classics that transcended specifics cultures and have become humanity classics and are known everywhere in the world like The Art of War, Oedipus Rex, Hamlet.
Some classics should be read to children like Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but others aren't really supposed to be read by teenagers and children. I had to read Animal Farm for school when I was 14 and I liked the criticism and the lessons that can be learned, but I now I feel like I would have enjoyed and understood it more if I had read it years later. School sometimes pushes classics into teenagers who aren't a public who enjoy that kind of book, and the only result that it has is ending up with a lot of adults who don't like reading.

I agree classics are so important, but they aren't taught well in the public schooling system. I used to love reading, but those first few years in high school almost killed that love. I had to read "Romeo and Juliet" and "Lord of the Flies" freshman year, and I absolutely hated both of them. Senior year of high school I read a bunch of classics including "Hamlet" and "Heart of Darkness", which are some of my favorites. I don't think I would ever enjoy "Lord of the Flies", but I wish I had waited to read "Romeo and Juliet" for when I was older (and could read the uncensored version with VITAL information for the story). Just because a book has young characters, doesn't mean the message was meant for a young audience.

I wish the school systems taught classics more appropriate for a young audience. I liked "Alice in Wonderland", "The Secret Garden" and "8 Cousins" when I was younger.

[Heidi M Simone]

You are expecting? Congratulations!

Yes, we're expecting a little boy. We're excited to meet our little guy! Thank you!

It is exciting! He is your first, right? I am happy for you!

He is our first one. We are very excited to welcome our little guy to our home! Thank you, gali!

[Amanda Nicole Newton]

I think the entire point of a book being labelled as a classic is not that it is an old book, but that it is one that can easily stand the test of time. For me, a classic book has to be able to still be relevant. Take for example 1984 by Orwell - where war is peace and the televisions watch you and Big Brother can read your thoughts. It might seem a bit farfetched, but take a look online. How many times have you typed something in online just to see ads for something similar pop up for months after?

In Brave New World where it focuses on how consumerism can diminish intellectualism. Look at the racism in Othello. Look at the themes of police brutality and unjust prison sentences and prejudice against criminals in Les Mis. Slaughter House Five that warns about the danger of letting violence become too commonplace. Frankenstein and the prejudice that comes from being different.

Every single classic book still has something relevant to us. If it doesn't, it doesn't deserve to be a classic.

[Aftab Yunis]

It depends on the book, so let see it from both perspectives. The first is: classical books are still relevant if some have prophetic aspects in it. For instance, there are many books that talk about the present context and its implications are relevant to the future also. However, there are few books that also need revision to make it meaningful for the present context, if any classical writing does not contribute to the present it means the need is to look at those books that are speaking about the present issues.

[yapashley]

Definitely! In my personal opinion, I feel that I won't feel that sense of accomplishment of being an avid reader if I don't even try to read the classic ones. That's why I recently started buying the classic books and slowly reading them, book by book.