Traditional English

Canon comes from the Greek word “Kanon” which signifies a measuring rod or a rule. Then this meaning was extended to indicate a list or a catalogue. The word canon has been used in different perspectives and it was late utilised in a literary application. Literary canon implies to the list of works which are accepted by experts as authentically written by a specific author (Altieri 1983). In particular, some notable canon were Chaucer Canon and the Shakespearean canon and also refers to other literary works that have been attached to an author, but on evidence implies to be inadequate or invalid, as fictional. Throughout the year, the term literary canon has come to be known in the works. These canonical writers are known to be the most kept in print at any given time and most oftenly and fully discussed and challenged by various literary critics and most likely to be integrated in anthologies and became part of college courses with titles like “Great American Writers.”
The social process in which a certain author come to be inferred and recognizes as a canonical writer is often called canon formation. Herein, the elements of this formative process can be considered as disputed and complex. However, it seem transparent that this process involves, among other ideas, the wide accord of scholars, critics and authors have a diverse perspective and sensibilities; the frequent reference of an author within the dialogue of a cultural community, the constant influence of and reference to a certain author in the work of other writer and the extensive assignment of an author or text included in school and college curricula (Ross 2000). These factors are of course regarded as mutually interactive and each needs to be sustained and continued over a considerable period of time.