To put the answer simply, yes! A prime example is The Odyssey (2026) film that grossed over 1 billion dollars in box office sales– a film based on the ancient Greek literary classic by Homer. Homer’s epic poem, among other literary classics such as The Scarlet Letter, A Tale of Two Cities, Hamlet, Frankenstein, Of Mice and Men, and Animal Farm are considered highly influential and foundational texts that are still being taught regularly in Bay Area schools. At AJ Tutoring, our English Department explores these classics with our students from the very first page to their final project.
So why do Bay Area Schools still assign the classics? Well, besides the fact these texts have withstood the test of time– retaining both their general popularity and praise amongst critics, centuries after they were written or performed– here are a few other reasons:
The Themes/Historical Concepts Are Still Relevant Today
Let’s consider Of Mice and Men. This novella, awarded in our own Californian Hall of Fame, was written by John Steinbeck during the Great Depression. Having been a migrant farmer himself near Soledad (the book’s setting), Steinbeck becomes not only a primary source for his readers but introduces themes that’ve continued to endure in modern discussion: humanity versus utility, marginalization, and the infamous ‘American Dream.’ Taking a glance further back to the 1850s, The Scarlet Letter clearly demonstrates themes of isolation, gender roles, and intolerance— current themes we still see today on our local news channels.
The Archaic Language, Vocabulary, and Figurative Devices are DYNAMITE!
The classic authors knew a great deal about the nuances in the English language. Their use of complex syntactic structure and wordplay is a highlight in critical literature that pushes the reader to interpret hidden meanings and motives within the plot and characters. As for vocabulary, William Shakespeare himself added over 1700 words to the common dictionary! Other works, such as A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, are a treasure trove of rhetorical and figurative devices for practicing a student’s identification and interpretive analysis.
AP Practice Galore
Does your 11th or 12th grader feel ready for the AP Language & Composition or the AP Literature & Composition exams? Many of the reading passages for both exams come from classic literature. Reading these texts ahead of time, or at least familiarizing oneself with the language and style of these authors, greatly improves a student’s comprehension for the exam. At AJ, we teach our students how to approach these classic passages for the multiple-choice and essay portions of each exam.
Globally Known Texts for Socratic Participation
Have you ever been in a conversation where someone makes a reference that’s critical to their point– but it came from a classic text like Animal Farm by George Orwell, which you never read? Classic literature is often used in socratic discussion, as references or counterpoints to the central argument, and socratic discussion can happen in the classroom and in daily life. In the Bay Area, a common English course requirement for students is to improve their ‘public speaking’ and ‘socratic’ skills for critical discussions.
So what can we offer at AJ?
When it comes time to learn the classics, we’re ready to assist with one-on-one tutoring to help facilitate more in-depth understanding, critical interpretations, and an overall appreciation as we connect these texts to our modern world. We will pair helpful study guides, close-reading strategies, vocabulary sheets, and enrichment reading as needed to help each student comprehend classic literature to its fullest!
