Classic of Poetry

One of the oldest books in Asia is Classic of Poetry. It was written 3,000  years ago. Classic of Poetry has 305 poems with three parts, the Airs of Domains, the Odes/ Elegances, and the hymns. Confucius, an early philosopher who still has an influence on people today, compiled Classic of Poetry.

        Folktales, fairy tales, theater plays, public readings, music, poetry, and more have taught people valuable ideas. They have taught people the difference between right and wrong, cultural customs, religion, history, and human nature. Classic of Poetry has 305 poems from China and they were a great influence on Chinese literature.

        Confucius knew the value of the best literature. He had Classic of Poetry arranged for people to use for educational purposes. Confucius had his own son read Classic of Poetry. He knew that Classic of Poetry would benefit his son to understand speaking. According to The Norton Anthology World Literature Volume One wrote that Confucius “… praised disciplines who quoted passages from Classic of Poetry to make a particular point, and he saw a comprehensive educational program in the anthology” (757). The poems taught rhetoric, morals, and virtues.

        Confucius said The Classic of Poetry can provide you with stimulation and with observation, with a capacity for communication, and with a vehicle for grief. At home they [the poems] enable you to serve your father, and abroad, to serve your lord. Also, you will learn the names of many birds, animals, plants, and trees” (757). Classic of Poetry was selected to be in “Confucian Classics” which was used for education.

        Readers can learn rhetoric, morals, and virtues from Classic of Poetry.

Some of the literary devices that are used in Classic of Poetry are: enumeration, evocative image, comparisons, and repetition. They teach people to read, write, and speak. Morals and virtues are in many poems. “Plums Are Falling” may have taught women to not be swayed by various men, but get married instead. The poems teach the reader about the characters of people.

        The rhetoric, morals, and virtues that are taught in Classic of Poetry are valuable for teaching today as well in the past. The limitations would be that some people would relate better if the poems were adapted for today. People now have  technology knowledge and sometimes differences in point of view. Anyway, if the reader took time to read Classic of Poetry, they would see the wealth of knowledge that could have from reading Classic of Poetry.

Works Cited

Classic of Poetry. The Norton Anthology of World Literature: Shorter Third Edition, Volume One. W.W. Norton. Ed. M Puchner. 2012. 756-766. Print.