Comparing Literature In The Great Gatsby And The Grapes Of Wrath

Literature is writing that speaks emotionally about the struggle of humanity. Literature isn’t just printed material, but “…only certain kinds of printed material specifically, the kinds that possess some kind of artistic merit” (Johnston, “What is Literature”). This is great because this doesn’t pertain to traditional books only; music can be included if it follows the guidelines of having highly charged language speaking of the human condition. To come to the conclusion of what literature is one must understand by simple reasoning anything scribbled on a piece of paper isn’t literature. A grocery list isn’t literature, but The Grapes of Wrath is because the author speaks of human conditions and ideals in very emotional language.

A comic book could not be compared with The Great Gatsby. For example, The Great Gatsby is a wonderful book with highly charged language speaking of the human condition. Most logical people come to understand literature isn’t anything written or typed, but must be enduring. Many papers and books have been written and are definitely not literature, but pop culture garbage. Much of what is written today is shallow. The writing today has no depth or meaning the

The definition of literature must still be narrow. Allowing literature to include just about anything will cause literature to be unimportant, and nothing more than words on a page. Literature is important because it helps readers to understand fellow human beings. Without literature many people wouldn’t be able to relate with someone who thought differently than them. Literature stays relevant throughout time, and this is evident for much of the literature read in the American classroom is from the early 20th century and earlier. Although much of what was written about isn’t still going on the books and poems remain relevant because of what they stood for and because they speak of the human condition and challenge the status