Cheek, The Growth and Importance of Literature
Within the rare book room, I was instantly captivated by the literature section, including Shakespeare, British writers, etc. This initial fascination drew me to continue researching all the fascinating books we had to do with literature and English. I was introduced to exciting books such as Syr Percyvelle of Gales. I also continued my research into one of the greatest writers, Shakespeare (in my opinion). I spent lots of time looking at the works we had within the realm of his work. I was instantly tranced. For me, the rare book room made a significant impact on me. I got to explore more of what I'm passionate about, and my focus is literature within my studies. This deep dive into old literature excited me and made me more interested in English and how writing developed. This passion grew into how books are made, writing styles, and printing through the years.
Working within the rare book room made me realize how far book-making and writing have come through the centuries.
Working in the rare book room was not without its challenges. While most items were correctly categorized, I did encounter difficulties with the numbering system. The room was a treasure trove of intriguing works, each deserving of in-depth research, but time was a constraint. The allure of the rare book room was such that it was hard to tear myself away. Selecting just two books for this project was a daunting task, but I persevered and chose the most significant ones.
From the extensive collection in the rare book room, I meticulously chose two books that I believed were vital to literature and held the most significance. These were Syr Percyvelle of Gales and F. Theresa Chisholm's Shakespeare Volumes (The famous First Folio). Each book possessed unique qualities that set it apart from the rest, making it the perfect representative of literature.
These two books stood out to me as soon as I saw them. Syr Percyvelle of Gales has an interesting back story about how it came to be. I loved researching this magnificent and detailed book. It made me appreciate restoring history more than I had before. Secondly, I chose the famous First Folio because Shakespeare is a fantastic writer, and the lithographing is very detailed in the book. This book also healed the history of Saint Mary’s. It was awarded to a professor here, making this book even more unique.
I hope the viewer of this project sees the importance of the literature I chose. The two works I have chosen are unique in their own ways and contribute to the world of literature in different ways. One encapsulates old manuscripts and medieval writing, and the other shows the works of a legendary playwright with a different form of printing that helped spread Shakespeare's amazing Works.
Laynie Cheek, Double major: English/ Secondary Education, Graduation Year: 2027