The Shifting of Literary Values (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER I. LITERARY VALUES CHANGE. 1. There are several hundred universally famous books that have come down to us approved by the voice of the past. There is here and there a dissenting opinion in regard to the merits of some of these works, but on the whole the place that they have taken is pretty well established. Mankind seems to be very reluctant in attacking their greatness. Yet one may be permitted to ask, Is it not possible that out of these, let us say two or three hundred volumes, there may not be a score or even two score of books whose fame is due to other causes than intrinsic literary merit? May not some embody a philosophy of life that is absolutely false and may it not also be couched in a form that is obsolete in our time? May not some be usurpers in the shrine of literary fame and have deserved their reputation much less than more worthy claimants? Is it not rather striking that, dif- fering as we do in our ideas as to what constitutes beauty and truth from the people of past ages, that we should still be agreed with them as to what are the most beautiful books? Views of life change; why then should not our attitude towards books, which are only views of life, also change? Our notion as to what are beautiful forms and truthful ideas alter; why not our criticism of books which incorporate these forms and ideas? The central idea of modern literature is self-development as opposed to the hitherto central idea of literature which was self-sacrifice. Modern literature like that of Ibsen is strongly individualistic; it advocates self-realization, attacks blind worship of custom, points out the evils of some of our institutions, treats the body with proper respect and allows the pursuit of worldly goods. It is usually conceded that these ideas ...