The Advantages of Older Literature
Literature today is not what it was a hundred years ago. The purpose, the values, and the overall depth have dramatically transformed it into a nearly different craft. Fiction nowadays often seeks to merely provide a false escape from the world. It draws readers into a fantasy and leaves them discontent with reality. In contrast, older literature that stood the test of time strives to teach its reader correct values and displays the beauty and power of words. Teens spend hours upon hours engrossed in the latest fantasy series while brushing off the classics because they are “boring.” Yet they should be reading older literature because of the skills that it can offer and the strong values that it contains. If they could see what can be gained from its pages, perhaps they would find that it is time to reconsider their reading choices.
First, older literature, with its stronger prose and wider variety of vocabulary, can enhance the reader’s writing skills. In this age, vocabulary is becoming smaller and smaller. The value of it has diminished to near nothing. Rather than seeing the merit of strong prose, this generation attempts to find ways to shorten words and create acronyms for day-to-day language. The ever-growing “texting language” has overtaken our society, drawing the worth out of a mature vocabulary. Dr. Hiebert (President and CEO of TextProject, Inc.) writes in the book Teaching and Learning Vocabulary: Bringing Research to Practice, “The relationship between vocabulary and literacy is impossible to separate. To be literate necessitates and supports a rich vocabulary.” (Hiebert & Kamil, 2005, p. 18). This means that to be literate, one must possess a well-developed vocabulary. Indeed, without vocabulary, reading and writing become dull tools that have lost their cutting edge and, as a result, their effectiveness. Every word in the English lexicon carries a unique flavor and character. As the world diminishes the use of variety in words, the manner in which a message can be conveyed becomes less powerful. Most of the works of literature nowadays hold vocabulary in very low esteem. Those authors cast aside all thoughts of the beauty that variation can achieve and simply splatter the pages with the bare minimum of vocabulary. In comparison, the authors of old understood the value of words and crafted them with the utmost delicacy into the breath-taking artworks that can be seen in the pages of their works today.
Sitting down with one of these timeless classics not only strengthens prose and vocabulary but also helps to develop one’s reading comprehension. According to Dr. Keith Lenz, “Reading comprehension is the process of constructing meaning from text.” (Lenz, n. d., para. 2). As a person reads, their mind joins the word definitions together into the overall meaning. Whether reading a scholarly paper or an assembly manual, the ability to fully understand what is being read is a necessary skill in everyday life. The depth of prose demonstrated in older works of fiction nourishes the reader’s reading comprehension. The complexity of prose that is shown in such works proves to be a healthy interpretation challenge for the readers. If they will only take the time to pry open the meaning of each sentence, it will unfurl into something far greater than first perceived. Discovering a deep meaning over time will reward the reader far more than learning a shallow truth at first glance.
Lastly, older books teach profound truths that are not respected in this generation. One of these truths is the value and power of words. Consider the stark difference between the fiction of today and fiction of the past. In those older works of literature, a good author would convey to the reader in a subtle way that they cherished words. They understood their worth and power and strove to shape them masterfully. The prose demonstrated in those literary works flows with life and beauty which causes the reader to see value in what words can attain. If used properly, words have incredible potential for power and strength. They can bring joy or despair. They can harm or heal. Letting words fly carelessly is a dangerous deed. When reading older literature, the reader can see the power and beauty of words in action. They can learn from the way that the author wields them with mindfulness. All this can give the reader a greater respect for words and the conviction to handle them with care.
Furthermore, the value of time is lacking in society today. All around us are advertisements depicting faster possibilities. One flashy sign leads to another, all offering more ways to instant gratification. Attention span is draining away like sand from an hourglass. Yet, as this generation seeks to save time, they swiftly waste it away. They spend it carelessly as they scroll through social media or watch internet videos. They save time merely to throw it away. There is no wisdom, no practicality, in this fruitless operation.
Reading old fiction gives the reader an opportunity to spend time unfolding the depth contained in its pages. When they do so, they will find that the flower that blossoms from long labor is far sweeter than that of speedy achievement. They learn to stay on a long course, in other words, to focus and have patience. This is a valuable skill to have, and a skill that is not so often seen in this day and age.
In conclusion, the literature of years past teaches many values and skills that are not present in this generation. It is often passed over because it is “boring” or “hard to read.” Perhaps modern fiction is easier to read, but is easier a better option? Do people learn from the easy things in life? No, they learn when they are presented with a challenge, yet choose to persevere anyway. Older fiction causes deeper thinking while modern fiction provides an escape from deeper thinking. If teens and children are being taught to escape the serious things in life, how will that manifest in their adult years? Are these ways of escaping life's problems and avoiding serious matters causing recklessness and immaturity in teens? If we take a closer look at how fiction affects our youth, we shall find that the literature of the past is truly a more profitable option.
Hiebert, E. H., & Kamil, M. L. (2005). OVERVIEW OF THE VOLUME. In Teaching and Learning Vocabulary: Bringing Research to Practice (p. 18). Mahwah, NJ: L. Erlbaum Associates.
Lenz, K. (n.d.). Instruction/Reading Comprehension: Special Connections. Retrieved from http://www.specialconnections.ku.edu/?q=instruction%2Freading_comprehension
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