Literary Value and Canon Quiz

According to the text, what is the role of literary critics in assessing the value of a text?

• To enforce decisions about canonical status

• To judge which texts are valuable and which are not

• To determine the popularity of a text

• To promote new and contemporary writers

What characteristics are generally stressed by critics when assessing the value of literary texts?

• Length and word count

• Complexity, aesthetic unity, literary language, subject-matter, and canonical status

• Author's personal background and experiences

• Genre and publication date

In the context of literary value, what does complexity of a literary text typically involve?

• Repetition of ideas and themes throughout the text

• Co-existence of main plot with sub-plots, structured language, and complex ideas

• Use of simple language and straightforward plot

• A skilfully constructed main plot only

What is the significance of the language in valued literary texts according to the text?

• It is filled with historical references and complex vocabulary

• It is elegant, witty, patterned, and controlled

• It is simple and straightforward

• It is informal and conversational

What type of subject-matter is generally considered to be present in valued texts?

• Light-hearted and comedic themes

• Serious, dealing with moral and philosophical topics of acknowledged importance

• Specific political questions in great detail

• Personal experiences and individual stories

What is the canon in the context of literature?

• A group of texts considered to be of least value

• A collection of non-fictional works and travel writing

• A list of contemporary and popular writers

• The books generally taught in schools, colleges, and universities

Who makes decisions about which authors and books are included on the syllabus in the school context?

• Government agencies

• Individual lecturers

• Publishers and libraries

• University bodies and external examiners

What is the role of publishers in enforcing decisions about canonical status according to the text?

• They commission critical books from academics writing on particular authors

• They label certain books as 'Classics' and buy them for libraries

• They make decisions about which books should be studied in universities

• They largely make up the researchers and critics who work on canonical writers

What is the significance of the gender and race of writers included in the canon according to the text?

• It reflects the societal biases and exclusions in the literary world

• It is a deliberate effort to promote diversity and inclusion

• It is a coincidence and does not affect the canon

• It has no significance in the context of literary value

What underlying notions about value may come to the fore when considering the construction of a course of study according to the text?