What Is The Difference Between Classic And Classical Literature?
The fundamental difference between Classical and Classic literature is not their themes, content, or motifs, but time and geography. Classical literature specifically refers to the philosophy, prose, poems, and drama written by the Ancient Greeks and the Ancient Romans. Anything that was written outside of Greece and Rome is not considered Classic literature. Time also plays a role in determining Classical literature; although it varies, Classical literature roughly spans from the 6th to the 2nd century B.C. Plato is considered the father of Classical Greek philosophy, and Homer-s novels, The Odyssey and The Iliad, are examples of epic Greek poetry. Ovid, Virgil, Horace, and Cicero represent the type of literary styles found in Classical Roman literature. Virgil-s epic poem, Dante-s Inferno, is commonly cited as an example.
Classic literature, on the other hand, is literature written outside of Greece and Rome. Classic literature, on a timeline, refers to that literature written before the 20th century. The majority of books written after that are considered to be contemporary novels. Of course, the classic categorization also means that the novel needs to stand the test of time. Nothing less than an insightful and beautifully written masterpiece is deserving of the classic title.
