In Search of the Classic

In Search of the Classic, Volume 1, is a scholarly work of literary criticism that redefines the concept of the classical. Steven Shankman argues that the classical is not merely a historical period of Western antiquity, but a continuing presence within literature. This study explores how a classical understanding of literature creates a coherent and rationally defensible representation, resisting the reduction of art to simple material reality or abstract philosophy.

Drawing from ancient Greek authors, the Greco-Roman tradition, and modern works, this volume examines the intersections of semiotics and theory. Shankman analyzes the connections between disparate authors, specifically comparing Pindar's third Pythian ode with Valéry's Le Cimetière marin. By challenging postmodern critical paradigms, the author establishes a normative framework for evaluating what constitutes the literary within the genres of drama and classical studies.