Some considerations about literary canon books

Abstract

The following article shows the way in which classic literature works, also known as canon books, widen the inner life of those who read them. The permanence and extension, both in time and space, that make a book a classic work, spread itself into the reader expanding her own self toward life experiences that go beyond her biographical, social, and cultural boundaries. In this sense, using four classic works as an example – Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice, Octavio Paz’ Labyrinth of Solitude, and Vicente Huidobro’s Altazor- we present an interpretation on how classic works have the power of deepening and enriching the common experiences of their readers, opening thought’s boundaries and possibilities.