Literature's Possible Future

”Is it possible that literature, especially poetry, is something that a scientific civilization like ours will eventually outgrow?" This question by Frye is one that is very relevant to us as students in our generation as well as those in generations to come. Frye in this chapter does talk quite a bit about the topics of science and the topic of art. As we are in a time where science and technology is becoming more and more prominent, to us as youth the answer to this question very much seems to be yes, it could. In the chapter he compares the ideas behind science and the arts and compares there "motives" very thoroughly. He says, "Science learns more and more about the world as it goes on: it evolves and improves...But literature begins with the model of experience, producing the literary model we call the classic." He then says that literature doesn't evolve or improve or progress. This analysis by Frye on literature's state is one that I never really thought about, but it is true . In this day and age we as a human race are learning so much about our planet, creating new technologies to get rid of the old methods of doing things, and using science to improve everything around us. This is something that classic literature in Frye's words, will not happen. If everything including science improves but poetic type of literature itself wont become anything greater than its classic ancestors, this type of literature may potentially be left out. The line, "Writers dont seem to benefit much by the advance of science..", is a line that I see as very important as to whether or not all types of writers will survive in the coming time. Although literature may vanish in paper form, novelists and writers of today, more closer to today's way of life will be around to give us there views and run our imagination. In relation to McCullough's speech, he says to take seriously and read closely to the books that have stood the test of time and to continue studying masterpieces and thoroughly analyze them. The real question is if poetry or literatures of olden ages (classics) will continue to follow us in a time where the new is in and the old is out. Will we really care to pay attention to such types of writing in the coming times?