Literary Canon Definition Essay Example for Free

Literary Canon Definition strainA literary mandate is a classification of literature. It is compromised of literary works that share similar or related characteristics and are considered to be the most important of a specific time frame or place. The process in which a work is orderized is completely subjective. And just as the judgments and opinions of people spay over time, so do literary canons. The status a work receives when it is entered into a literary canon is based on its relevance to the time stop consonant. Therefore a social change such as the feminist movement can determine what works are added and removed from a literary canonBoth the works of Gail Godwins A Sorrowful adult female and Karen Van Der Zees A mysterious Sorrow were composed during the rise of feminism. However, the perspective of muliebrity each work has varies greatly. A Secret Sorrow reflects the stereotypical view of cleaning lady that the feminist movement so strongly opposed. The view that woman are child bearing objects and should complete the role of the traditional housewife is irrelevant to the social changes casualty during time period.In stark contrast, A Sorrowful Woman is written about a woman who is weary and unsatisfied with her role as a mother and child. She even goes as far as to detach herself from her family and isolate herself into one room. This perspective ties closely with way many women felt during the time period when feminism was rising. Thus its social and historical relevance to the time period makes A Sorrowful Woman a much better fit to be entered into the literary canon.