I think it’s important to read at least a little bit of classic literature just to get a feel for what more antiquated and formal work reads like, but at the same time I don’t think that classic literature should be the entire focus of lit classes.
I agree with you about the lists. While I can’t say the syllabus for every single lit class contains “classic” works simply because the teacher or professor just wants the student to be able to say they’ve read them, I do think that is a problem with many lit classes. I think classics should be on the reading list because they can teach students valuable lessons about writing, love, loss, form, content, etc, not because they’re supposedly necessary to add to the student’s “reading resume” without digging deeper into them. If the sole purpose of putting a book on the syllabus is so the reader can say they’ve read it, then the teacher or professor has the wrong idea.
So while I do believe it’s important to read some classic works, I also believe that the curriculum of many lit classes should be re-worked to include more modern reads. For example, of course Shakespeare’s poetry sounds lovely, but let’s be honest, while students could benefit from learning about his sonnets, they could also benefit greatly from reading slam poems by Derrick Brown or Andrea Gibson, say. I think slam poetry really should be worked into the curriculum of lit classes, because it’s bold and fresh and new, and it punches the reader to the gut like no other. More modern novels would also be a good idea.
I think that if teachers and professors let their students co-build the curriculum with them, they could come up with a nice blend of classic and modern works to read and write about. I think that would honestly be the best solution.
And like you said, if all you’re reading in a lit class is work that you don’t enjoy or feel is too out of date, but you don’t have time to read outside of class, then you’re wasting your time reading inside class. Those little blocks of time you get to read in lit class are so crucial.
So why not spend them reading something you enjoy and can learn volumes from?
Just my two cents.