OED Q: "canon" as "accepted body of works"?

[Benjamin Barrett]

Klingon speakers similarly talk about the Okrandian canon (Klingon language materials by Mark Okrand). 

http://klingonska.org/canon/

Benjamin Barrett
Seattle, WA

On Apr 27, 2012, at 2:10 PM, Baker, John wrote:

>        The OED definition does not, however, reflect the more recent definition of "canon" as the written or other fictional works that are considered to constitute the entirety of the authoritative works concerning a fictional character or set in a fictional universe.  For example, there are many stories concerning Sherlock Holmes, but only those written by A. Conan Doyle are considered to be the canon.  DC used to have a practice of printing "imaginary stories" (as if, in context, there were any other kind) featuring Superman; even though they are comic book stories published by DC and from the usual Superman creative team, they depart from the usual character continuity and are considered noncanonical.
> 
> 
> John Baker
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Garson O'Toole
> Sent: Friday, April 27, 2012 4:37 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: OED Q: "canon" as "accepted body of works"?
> 
> This instance in 1920 of "canon" in the phrase "canon of literature"
> might fit under the OED definition.
> 
> Cite: 1920 January, Normal Instructor and Primary Plans, Volume 29,
> Number 3, A Plan for the Study of "Snow Bound" by Velva Bradbury,
> Start Page 26, Quote Page 26, Dansville, New York. (Google Books full
> view)
> http://books.google.com/books?id=L1wwAQAAMAAJ&q=%22canon+of%22#v=snippet&
> 
> [Begin excerpt]
> The time to teach this poem is after a snowstorm. The first one
> hundred-seventy-five lines are the finest in the poem. These at least
> should be included in the canon of literature for our rural schools.
> Incidentally, few pupils can read Whittier without absorbing the idea
> of a man of great conscience and high spiritual insight.
> [End excerpt]
> 

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