[QUOTE=1920s Style “Death Ray”]
S/he is looking for a list of classic books that you should read if you are to a have a more complete understanding of the many phrases and sayings that make up our language.
Perhaps some Shakespeare in order to have more knowledge of often quoted phrases such as “To be, or not to be…” and “Alas poor Yorick…”
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Yep. The modern equivalent is being pop-culture literate, to understand Simpsons references (“Worst. Movie. Ever.” might not be a criticism of a movie but of the nerdiness of a critic of the movie, but without knowing the Comic Book Guy) or, say, Peanuts (if someone says someone is his Little Red-Haired Girl, you’ll know he means more than she’s a redhead only if you know of Charlie Brown’s crush).
Off the top of my head:
A familiarity with the Christian Bible if helpful, though references to it today are far fewer than in the past. “The patience of Job,” “The road to Damascus,” “remove the plank from your eye” as phrases; assumed familiarity in some circles of the Sermon on the Mount, or of Sodom and Gomorrah. Even many people who argue against Christianity will give short references to stories (like the near sacrifice of Isaac) that they assume will be familiar to others. Jokingly suggesting the Song of Solomon for reading in circles is a joke only if you know that the book is essentially erotic prose. And there is always someone using apocalyptic imagery lifted from Revelation for political purposes.
I’d suggest reading the books of Genesis (for the Creation, the story of Noah, the story of Abraham/Isaac), Job, the Gospels (Matthew/Mark/Luke/John for all the Jesus references), Acts (for the basic story of Saul/Paul), and Revelation (apocalyptic imagery).
A good working knowledge of Greek mythology is always helpful. “A Sisyphian task,” “Herculean challenge,” the story of Jason’s quest for the golden fleece. It’s kind of a cheat, but perhaps Bulfinch’s Mythology and Edith Hamilton’s Mythology. The former was probably the primary way that Greek mythology was introduced to Americans-- the Wikipedia article on the book states “The Bulfinch myths are an indispensable guide to the cultural values of the American 19th century, yet the Bulfinch version is still the version being taught in many American public schools.” The latter is still used in schools today as an intro to Greek mythology.
Collections of fables, tales, etc: Aesop’s fables, Grimm’s fairy tales, Perrault’s Mother Goose Tales, 1001 Nights. People grow up with the stories, have the tropes and morals imbedded in their minds, and reference them for the rest of their lives.
Orwell’s 1984, if only to understand the large number of terms used to speak of politics or as pop-culture to this day. Thought police, doublethink, big brother, memory hole, “we have always been at war with Eastasia,” thoughtcrime, even the names Emmanuel Goldstein and Winston Smith.