How Not to Read Classic Literature

I am a classic literature buff. I have my B.A. in English literature, and plan to get my Ph.D. one day (after the kids are in school). You want to talk classic literature, I'm your gal.

But I've found that most people hear the words "classic literature" and cringe. Ugh... if it's a classic, it must be booooo-RING! But to be honest, I can't figure out why this stigma has attached to the classics. The canon (aka, the body of works that are considered to be "classics") is full of exciting, well-written literature. Love stories, action, adventure, tales that would rival the biggest Hollywood blockbusters in terms of scale and entertainment. True, not all classics are appealing to everyone, but that goes for everything. So when did this negative connotation attach itself to the phrase "classic literature?"

I've decided that it's because people are reading the classics all wrong. And it's not your fault - you're just doing what your high school English teacher told you to do. He said that you had to read it a certain way and get a certain message out of it in order to make the most out of these great works. But you know what? He was wrong.

Don't read with a dictionary by your side

Yes, there are likely to be some big words you don't understand, especially if you're reading something that was written a couple of centuries ago. People spoke differently then. But you don't have to look up every single word in order to get the message. Use context clues to get the general feeling of the words. You might not be able to give a definition of "pervicacious" from memory, but you will have a deeper understanding of the meaning than if you just pick a definition out of the dictionary. If you do need a dictionary, go to the library or online and check out the Oxford English Dictionary. It will be more likely to have the word you're looking for, as well as a definition that is more suitable to the author's time. Words change in meaning over time - it's the nature of language.

Don't try to find the "hidden meaning" in every single symbol

Many of the classics are rife with symbolism. Shakespeare is notorious for using language to convey double or triple meanings with a single word. It takes scholars decades to decipher them all. But you don't have to "get" every little symbol in order to take something away from the work. Just read. Feel a connection with the characters, allow yourself to be carried away by the story, get wrapped up in the language. There's no need to agonize over every word, trying to ensure that you understand everything that the author could possibly be trying to say. Who cares what he's trying to tell you? All that's important is the meaning that you take with you.

Don't force yourself to read something just because it's a classic

Do some research. Find out what the book is about. Read the first couple of pages in the bookstore before buying the book. If it doesn't seem to be something you'd be interested in, don't force yourself to read it. Unless you are a literature scholar trying to work your way through the entire canon, there is no need for you to read a book that bores you. Forcing yourself to read something uninteresting will only make you less likely to pick up another book in the future.

Don't take notes

I have a tendency to take notes when I read so that I don't forget things. If something seems to be a foreshadow of events to come, I write it down. If I particularly like the way that table is described, I write it down. But that's me. Unless you're reading for a class, it's not necessary to take notes unless you just want to. If I'm reading just for fun, I don't take notes. I only take notes when I'm reading to try to keep my mind in "literature" mode. Normal people don't need to write down every interesting thing they stumble upon in every single book they read. Admittedly, I am not normal.

If you avoid these common mistakes that people make, you'll find that classic literature is often just as enjoyable, if not more so, than your grocery store paperbacks, with much more resonance. Unless you're in school, there is no need to make classic literature feel like work. Just enjoy it. So go on, pick up that copy of Don Quixote and get started. Happy reading!