the most famous name in literature

what would you say?

Dorian Gray?

No, I'd say Sherlock Holmes.

Virgil ?

Tie: Adam and Eve

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Originally Posted by Calidore

Tie: Adam and Eve

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Haha....I like this but how famous/infamous are they compared to others more infamous:biggrin5:?

Mickey Mouse.

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Originally Posted by cafolini

Mickey Mouse.

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Not Donald Duck? Aww!!:biggrin5:

Sherlock Holmes, Alice, Superman, Gandalf, and Harry Potter

Romeo and Juliet, perhaps.

King Arthur or Robin Hood

Helen of Troy

John Lennon because of Come Together? (amongst others)

Freddy Mercury because of Bohemian Rhapsody? (amongst others)

Robert Plant because of Stairway To Heaven? (amongst others)

Jimi Hendrix because of Purple Haze? (amongst others)

So many... ...

Ummm... the key word was "literature".:eek::confused5:

And I listed a song, a libretto, a ballad, and an out-of-this world poem.

I'll take my list over most of what's been listed so far.

I'd rather watch a Shakespeare play than read it, which is only second best, and if performance isn't your strong point maybe a busking stint will wake you up

(not necessarily at StLukes)

Zhuge Liang, Ximen Qing, Cao Cao, Guan Yu, etc. probably Cao Cao or Zhuge Liang. Not only is Cao Cao traced in core texts of Chinese culture, his own poetic career was also noteworthy.

As for females, probably Cui Yingying as the most beautifully constructed female character of the Chinese canon.

The beauty of Chinese literature is that stories are retold in new and interesting ways - the core evolves as a sort of literary performance, so that Cao Cao goes from heroic bard to tragic romantic, to new money, to vile conqueror, to usurper, to schemer, to villain, to pure evil. The actual fluidity of the character as it transcends can only be compared to something like Faust in the west, as he is rewritten. Our works do not work in recasting cycles, but rather in inventing new personages, which is perhaps a weakness.

Then again, Jesus is also a brilliant dynamic character, as is Satan, and many other Christian characters and Jewish biblical characters.

Hummm...so many must put up a voting system to decide which is to be the most popular..LOL

Tarzan of the apes.

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Originally Posted by JBI

Zhuge Liang, Ximen Qing, Cao Cao, Guan Yu, etc. probably Cao Cao or Zhuge Liang. Not only is Cao Cao traced in core texts of Chinese culture, his own poetic career was also noteworthy.

As for females, probably Cui Yingying as the most beautifully constructed female character of the Chinese canon.

The beauty of Chinese literature is that stories are retold in new and interesting ways - the core evolves as a sort of literary performance, so that Cao Cao goes from heroic bard to tragic romantic, to new money, to vile conqueror, to usurper, to schemer, to villain, to pure evil. The actual fluidity of the character as it transcends can only be compared to something like Faust in the west, as he is rewritten. Our works do not work in recasting cycles, but rather in inventing new personages, which is perhaps a weakness.

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That awkward moment when JBI attempts to defy stereotypes by being a stereotype.

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Originally Posted by Alexander III

That awkward moment when JBI attempts to defy stereotypes by being a stereotype.

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What does that mean. You are looking at the continuously largest body of readers in the world for the past 3000 years. Outside of the Bible, nothing has been as well read, and therefore famous. It's a mechanical answer.

Heathcliff

It's obviously Jesus Christ and/or God. Anyone who thinks otherwise isn't thinking the OP's question through.

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Originally Posted by JBI

What does that mean. You are looking at the continuously largest body of readers in the world for the past 3000 years. Outside of the Bible, nothing has been as well read, and therefore famous. It's a mechanical answer.

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hahah I was being lighthearted. Don't take what I say too seriously. I just meant, that as a gambling man I would have bet every last cent of mine on that fact that you were going to answer the question which a group of chinese writers, nothing wrong with that of course as you mention China has an equally rival body of literature to rival the european one.

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Originally Posted by Mutatis-Mutandis

It's obviously Jesus Christ and/or God. Anyone who thinks otherwise isn't thinking the OP's question through.

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What? More than Robin Hood, man in tights!? No way :biggrin5:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8Jah7BkEOk.../robinhood.jpg

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Originally Posted by Mutatis-Mutandis

It's obviously Jesus Christ and/or God. Anyone who thinks otherwise isn't thinking the OP's question through.

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I feel we're almost wilfully discounting the strong candidacy of Paddington Bear.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsxag-wG2j...ar-431x300.jpg

It could be the original poster Cacian herself - after all she has managed to rack up nearly 2000 posts in a mere 6 month period. She might be destined to be the most prolific literary figure!

Watch out Schazza and Papaya! ;)

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Originally Posted by MystyrMystyry

It could be the original poster Cacian herself - after all she has managed to rack up nearly 2000 posts in a mere 6 month period. She might be destined to be the most prolific literary figure!

Watch out Schazza and Papaya! ;)

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Well, I guess making a thread for every single question that pops into one's head does get the posting number high up there pretty quickly. :nod:

And I did forget about Paddington Bear. He's a BAMF.

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Originally Posted by Alexander III

hahah I was being lighthearted. Don't take what I say too seriously. I just meant, that as a gambling man I would have bet every last cent of mine on that fact that you were going to answer the question which a group of chinese writers, nothing wrong with that of course as you mention China has an equally rival body of literature to rival the european one.

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To be honest, I wanted to do something out of Ramayana, Vishnu or something, but couldn't choose one whose name was standoutish enough, or easily spelled by me without having to look something up.

Don Quixote?

If you ask people to name a famous painting, most of them will say Mona Lisa, but I don't think there's any literary equivalent of that.

Readers for 3000 years? Are there any reliable findings of the Literacy Rate in China say, 500 years ago? Or even before the last Revolution?

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Originally Posted by mona amon

Don Quixote?

If you ask people to name a famous painting, most of them will say Mona Lisa, but I don't think there's any literary equivalent of that.

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Famous for its name for its paint?

Coleridge's Kubla Khan perhaps?

Harry Potter, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, King Arthur, Dorian Gray, Sherlock Holmes...

depends what your definition of "famous" is

what other book starts with as famous a line as "call me Ishmael"

what about the "protagonist" of ellison's "Invisible Man" who never has a name

Shakespeare.

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Originally Posted by tscherff

what other book starts with as famous a line as "call me Ishmael"

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Outside of America - lots.

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Originally Posted by MarkBastable

Outside of America - lots.

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In America, too. "They were the worst of Times, they were the best of time." Okay . . . maybe not lots, just that one.

What about Elizabeth Bennet or Frankenstein?

Has anyone mentioned Faust?
there are many books about him from different authors and operas and all

sorry posted twice

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Originally Posted by tscherff

depends what your definition of "famous" is

what other book starts with as famous a line as "call me Ishmael"

what about the "protagonist" of ellison's "Invisible Man" who never has a name

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Which book is this that starts with
''call me Ishmael''?