Canon
The Literary canon refers to a group of texts that elite scholars have decided to be most relevant to society and that should be read by each individual (Lombardi, 2018). These texts are generally deemed as such due to various hermeneutical interpretations with which they are associated, that bring out a greater meaning which the scholars of the time view important. Due to changing times and societies, those texts which are defined as canonical and non-canonical frequently change (Lombardi, 2018). For example, historically, clergymen would establish biblical texts (and text with similar principles) as the literary canon because they agreed with their religious and moral views (Bates, 2013). However, any text that questioned or disputed their views would likely be considered non-canonical, if not blasphemous. On the other hand, a more recent literary canon may instead establish a very different set of texts that represent a more progressive view. For example, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, may be considered a part of modern literary canon in how it brings to light the existence of social inequalities. By marking Lee’s novel as literary canon, modern scholars can accentuate the necessity for society to realize such inequalities and to further resolve them.
In his work Why Milton Matters, A New Preface to His Writing, Joseph Wittreich makes the argument that John Milton’s Paradise Lost qualifies to be recognized as literary canon. Wittreich makes this argument on the grounds that Milton’s unique, contradictory style of writing, brings to debate a plethora of progressive topics and is therefore necessary to be read by members of society to solve such issues. For example, if Paradise Lost is established as literary canon, then contradictory feminist and masculine hermeneutics may spark debates of equality and therefore allow for society to overcome its sexist past.
Canon may be related to hermeneutics in how it is through the analysis of various interpretations that texts may be established as canon by the scholars of the time. When such hermeneutics fit in with the scholarly perspective and bring out an impactful meaning, scholars may establish a certain text as being a literary canon.
References
- Lombardi, Esther. “What Is the Canon in Literature?” ThoughtCo, Feb. 1, 2018, thoughtco.com/literary-devices-canon-740503.
- Bates, Jordan. “Literary canons exclude work no matter how selective canon makers are”, The Daily Nebraskan, April 25, 2013, www.dailynebraskan.com/arts_and_entertainment/literary-canons-exclude-works-no-matter-how-selective-canon-makers/article_da83def2-ad43-11e2-b07a-0019bb30f31a.html
