Which statement describes a canon?

• A. A collection of texts assigned for academic study
• B. A set of texts deemed significant by a single author
• C. A collection of works broadly agreed to be significant by a community of readers
• D. A list of new publications only

Answer: (C)

A canon is a body of literary works that a community of readers or scholars treats as central, authoritative, and representative of a tradition. This is why the statement describing a canon as a collection of works broadly agreed to be significant by a community of readers is the best choice: it captures the sense of shared, long-standing significance that defines a canon, not just a temporary or individual selection.

An academic reading list or texts assigned for study reflects what a course aims to cover, but it doesn’t necessarily reflect wide, enduring consensus across a broader readership. A collection chosen by a single author shows that author’s tastes, not a community’s established judgment. A list of new publications focuses on contemporary material and overlooks the established, time-tested works that typically populate a canon. Canons can evolve and vary across cultures and disciplines, but the core idea is broad, communal recognition of certain works as central.