Canons ancient and modern: the texts we teach

This article considers the lists of authors prescribed in the National Curr iculum for English against the background of the canon wars in higher educa tion between those who support a unitary canon and their challengers advoca ting pluralism. The issues of textual choice, literary quality, prescriptio n and recommendation are discussed in the light of a summary of the canon d ebate presented in the form of nine propositions. The final part of the art icle is a critique of the main developments in the National Curriculum cano n during the 1990s showing how the language and culture of the official doc uments have sought to establish a heritage model. The article is equally cr itical of both centralised prescription and a laissez faire free-for-all; i t concludes with some principles to guide future policy changes on the cano n issue.