The Secret to Understanding Classic Literature

Many students find Classic Literature hard to understand, whether that's over half a million words by Tolstoy in War and Peace or less than a tenth of that in Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Some educators and researchers chalk this up to societal differences. Beyond political, religious, and discriminatory bias, which were accepted and even expected in earlier times, there have also been many other changes in society over the last 100+ years. Technologically, for example, the radio was first invented in the 1920s. Characters in classic novels did not listen to the radio, watch movies, or have a television. Never mind cable, recorded movies, video games, or the internet. So, while the viewpoints and reality of these characters were very different, the central themes of these classics—betrayal, despair, poverty, curiosity, the thrill of adventure, love, honor, loyalty, and dedication—remain much the same, and as long as we remain human, will continue on. In short, societal differences complicate matters, but it's not enough reason to judge the classics as too hard to understand.

Language is another point made, and this is much closer. Slang changes from generation to generation. People born in the 1960s, who grew up in the 1980s, and who had grandchildren in the 2010s don't understand what those grandchildren say when they speak Gen Z. That's only two generations difference. What about a book written 4-6 generations ago?

In truth, both of these points play their part. More fundamental, though, is the definition of words. Take a simple book as an example, Winnie-the-Pooh. A. A. Milne, writes:

"First you went round the spinney twice by yourself, and then Piglet ran after you and you went round again together ..."

Without knowing the definition of the word spinney, it's impossible to know what is happening in the story. Pooh went round the spinney - so he twirled in place? Or did he go around something? Or is it similar to around the bend? This is what makes books hard to read. Knowing that a spinney is a small area of trees or bushes, this phrase instantly becomes very simple.

With this in mind, the mission of Classics Made Easy is to republish these Classic works of literature with comprehensive glossaries so that every word can be understood. The books also include character and location guides, a historical context, and a biographical article on the author. Combined, this provides everything a reader or student needs to comprehend these masterpieces fully.