If you went to high school in the United States anytime since the 1960s, you were likely assigned some of the following books: Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'Julius Caesar' and 'Macbeth'; John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men'; F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'; Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird'; and William Golding's 'The Lord of the Flies.' For many former students, these books and other so-called 'classics' represent high school English. But despite the efforts of reformers, both past and present, the most frequently assigned titles have never represented America's diverse student body. Why did these books become classics in the U.S.' How have they withstood challenges to their status' And will they continue to dominate high school reading lists' Or will they be replaced by a different set of books that will become classics for students in the 21st century' The high school canon has been shaped by many factors. Shakespeare's plays, especially 'Macbeth' and 'Julius...
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