Comparing the writings of authors, such as Charles Dickens, Mark Twain or Nathaniel Hawthorne to writers of today like John Grisham, Freida McFadden and Cara Bastone might seem like comparing apples to oranges. As with fashion, music and other industries that change with the times, writing has evolved (or, as some critics would say, “devolved”) over time. What are the main differences between classic literature and modern novels?
There are typically three types of readers in the classic literature category: those who love it, those who hate it and those who only read it when forced to do so, like in high school English classes. Some people describe the authors of the classics as brilliant. Others claim to be “bored to death” by anything written prior to 1995 or so.
Differences between classic literature and modern novels
While many U.S. high schools still require students to read classic literature, some have shifted to modern novels, instead. The following list includes several of the main differences between fiction from these two eras:
- Most classic literature was written by Caucasian males, although there are exceptions.
- Cultural norms, politics and various modern ideologies have changed the way people think; therefore, writings from classical eras may be offensive to today’s readers due to stereotypes, racial slurs, and other issues.
- The vocabulary in modern novels is much less formal, complex, and daunting than the language readers encounter in the classics.
Stories like Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Fin” or Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” often come under scrutiny and criticism for the way in which black people are depicted in these stories. Charles Dickens is frowned upon by many modern readers for the behavior and speech of characters like Fagin from “Oliver Twist,” who is widely viewed as an antisemite.
Reading the classics through a modern lens
Many English teachers continue to introduce their students to classic literature, albeit using a creative approach. For example, one teacher told her students to read Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter” with feminism in mind, paying close attention to how women are treated throughout the novel. It’s also helpful to bridge the gap between eras by finding ways to connect with and relate to classic stories through modern resources, such as finding modern songs or movie characters that reflect characters or circumstances in books written long ago.
A careful review of classic literature might lead readers to discover that times have, in fact, not changed all that much. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” for example, there are several incidents and comments that suggest certain issues, such as same-sex attraction. The way fictional societies address such issues in stories from classical eras as opposed to modern times may greatly differ, however. Comparing the classics with modern novels is a great way to spark discussions in book clubs or add to your resources if you aspire to be an author.
