Kay Rice Professor Leach COM 1102 13 February 2009 Bob Dylan’s Inclusion into the Literary Canon The Literary Canon is used as the rule of measure for literature. Many great people are included among the names of the canon. One name that should be included in the Literary Canon is Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan has received a Pulitzer Prize for his works. He has received many other domestic and international awards and honors. His works have been likened to the great poets. Bob Dylan’s works have shaped the American culture. His poems revolve around current events and for this reason, he should be included in the Literary Canon. WiseGeek.com said it best, “The Literary Canon applies to a type of literature. It is a term that is used to cite a group of literary works that are deemed the most important of a particular time period orplace. When a work is entered into the canon, it gains official inclusion into a group of literary works that are widely studied and respected.” John Hellman, a professor at Ohio State University Lima campus said, “The literary canon is a work-in-progress and it reflects both the original contributions of the new literary figures and professor’s changing perspectives concerning both what is worthy of study and why.” (Eichenberger) As you can see, the Literary Canon is always changing and adding new additions. Bob Dylan tells us he was born May 24, 1941 in Duluth MN. He grew up in HebbingMN, a mining town close to the Canadian border. As a child he ran away from home at the ages of 10, 12, 13, 15, 15-1/2, 17 and 18. He visited a great many places. He taught himself to play guitar at age 10. By the time he was 15, he could also play the harmonica and the autoharp. The first song he wrote at age 15 was a dedication to Brigitte Bardot. Bob started attending the University of Minnesota the spring of 1960. He only attendfor six months. While he was there, he performed at a coffeeshopthat was near the school. (Dylan) Born Robert Zimmerman, he told...