More than Parchment

The history of literature and the idea that a story is so much more than just some paper and binding has always fascinated me. What I enjoy most about our class is how we go so much deeper than just the outer surface. What is a book? What makes a novel a novel? Is this piece of clay considered a book? It is questions like these that make an individual rethink all he has ever known about literature and perhaps even change the way they look at books today. Everything we touch has a story so much more than just what is engraved or written. Ironically, when you look at a 16th century piece of literature, often times one truly has no intention of gathering information the way the book was intended. Rather, one touches, feels, smells the piece; delving into a whole new world of mystery and creativity. What was the man doing while writing this? How long did it take to carve this? Who was it for? It is a mindset such as this that keeps me optimistic and excited for future explorations into the fascinating world of ancient literature.