Poll: Classic or Not?

[eaglei]

Members of my family are divided on whether "Animal Farm" by George Orwell is a classic - or not.

 

One says it is.

One says not in the traditional sense.

One says it's in the gray area.

 

According to your understanding of a *classic*, how do you rate "Animal Farm"?

[Mrs Mungo]

I say yes, it's a classic. To me, a book that remains popular and relevant over a long period of time is a classic.

[Mejane]

Certainly relevant, Mrs. M. I recently re-read it, and was stunned at how relevant it is for our time.

[AuntieM]

Slight hijack, what do you call the class of literature Animal Farm falls into? If you group it with Brave New World and 1984? My mind keeps wanting to say "apocalyptic" but I know that's not correct. What's the proper term?

[dangermom]

Yes, I'd call it a classic, esp. in the YA section.

 

I think the genre is called dystopian.

[amy g.]

Miss Good is reading it now. It's a classic.

[KidsHappen]

I curious as to what their reasoning would be for why they didn't consider it a classic at all or in the traditional sense. :bigear:

[angela in ohio]

Classic in the sense that it is an important voice in the Great Conversation? Yep!

[Ester Maria]

I voted for gray area. :D

Now seriously, I would group it with "modern classics", i.e. with works I would expect an educated conversant to be familiar with, even if because they were influential and have become a common place rather because they were good. So, it's not Dante-type or Goethe-type of a classic, with exquisite literary "taste", but it's still an important book for the context of our time and place.

[Just Robyn]

I say yes, it's a classic. To me, a book that remains popular and relevant over a long period of time is a classic.

 

 

:iagree:

[Chris in VA]

Shoot--I "pressed the wrong button"--so subtract one from the second option and add one to the first. :glare:

[Guest Virginia Dawn]

I voted classic. I think "classic" should be redefined, and not just include literature from the classical age or originally written in the classical languages, which does not necessarily make it better or more pertinent than excellent modern literature. We should not stagnate.

 

:auto:

[Gratia271]

Certainly relevant, Mrs. M. I recently re-read it, and was stunned at how relevant it is for our time.

:iagree:

[LibraryLover]

Animal Farm is a classic because it has all of the 'classic' literary elements. It's a book that even younger kids can 'mine for meaning'. The layers are many, the allegory , while about the Russian Revolution, illustrates a timeless and deeper story about moral obligation.

[eaglei]

Thanks! You definitely have sided with classic predominantly, and secondly, with it being a non-traditional classic. Just a few said not a classic or in the gray area. So, I am adding this to the classic stack of reading for this year! The comments on what makes a classic were enlightening, too. Thanks!

[lovemykids]

I say yes, it's a classic. To me, a book that remains popular and relevant over a long period of time is a classic.

:iagree: