Have the allegations of declining literacy rates been overstated?
In recent times, a growing concern has been raised about the literacy skills of university students, particularly those studying English Literature. An anonymous academic lamented that the average graduate could not understand a serious adult novel cover-to-cover, a sentiment that reached a peak when a study found that a majority of American college English Literature students were unable to comprehend the opening of Charles Dickens' Bleak House.
This critique extends to students' struggles with short assigned texts and classic literature like Anna Karenina and The Iliad. The emergence of a new genre of articles, often penned by exasperated academics, has highlighted this issue.
The decline of adult literacy skills is not exclusive to the United States. Evidence released last year revealed that stagnation or decline in adult literacy skills has been observed in most OECD countries. A young American student, studying English at a decent college, misunderstood "whiskers" to mean a cat, not a beard, underscoring the depth of the problem.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. Classics like Pride and Prejudice and Nineteen-Eighty-Four have gained popularity among TikTok influencers and seen increased sales, suggesting a growing interest in classic literature among the younger generation.
This resurgence of interest in classic literature can be attributed, in part, to tech billionaires like Marc Andreessen, who started the trend of reading classics in Silicon Valley. Currently, Andreessen is immersed in Middlemarch, following in the footsteps of another tech billionaire, Patrick Collison, who had previously promoted reading classic novels, leading to a craze of reading Middlemarch in Silicon Valley.
One parent, determined to ensure their baby daughter does not become an embarrassing datapoint in a future literacy study, is already working to help her understand Bleak House. As we navigate these challenging times, it is crucial to foster a love for reading and encourage the next generation to delve into the rich world of classic literature.
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