Death in Venice
Literary Manifesto
Literature is more than just a novel or a story. There is a distinguishable line between literature and a story. I think what defines literature is the underlying message in the story or poem. In other words, I think if there is more to the story than just the plot, then it can generally be considered literature. Also, to decide that something is literature, one must view the story as a work of art. Ultimately, there are three things that I value in a story or poem in which, I consider to be literature. The three key factors are deciding if something is timeless, underlying themes, and poetic devices.
Timelessness is one of the most important aspects of literature. It shows that the work ultimately, withstood the tests of times. For example, if I read a text that was written a hundred years ago and I can relate to what the character was going through, then for me, that work is timeless. In other words, stories or poems that deal with love, life, or death typically are literature because most everybody can relate. For example, in Death in Venice, Gustav von Aschenbach is a man whose life is without passion. I think there are many people who feel as though they are missing something in their life.
Underlying themes are another important aspect to literature. Without underlying themes, it would be difficult to distinguish between what is a work of art and what is just a story. For me, a story without a theme may be enjoyable to read, but at the end of the story, I feel, in a sense, like I wasted a few hours reading something that didn’t have any substance. These stories are what I consider to be “fluff” novels, and are most definitely not literature. Also, in Death in Venice, the main themes are love and attraction, which ultimately, is why I consider Death in Venice to be considered literature.
The last aspect of literature, for me, is the use of poetic devices. Poetic devices include metaphors, similes, and imagery. Poetic devices show that the author carefully thought about how he wanted to get his message to the reader across. Also, by using similes, the author is able to compare two things, and thus may open the reader’s eyes to a better understanding of what the author was attempting to explain. Similes occur often in literature, and may often go unnoticed due to the “like” or “as” which defines a simile. Thus, it is very likely that many stories contain similes, and as a result, poetic devices.
Literature is indeed a work of art. Thus, the term literature should not be used loosely. I do not think that novels such as Twilight should be in the same literary category as Death in Venice. Therefore, I think it is important to establish what makes a novel, story, or poem, a work of literature. The three deciding factors for me are determining whether the story is timeless, whether it contains themes, and the presence of literary devices. In conclusion,