Question

In 2016, American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first musician to ever receive the award. The award sparked debates about whether a musician qualifies for the award. Educate yourself about both sides of the argument and form your own opinion about the topic. Read the four articles provided here to learn more about both sides of the argument. Write an essay to present an argument that either supports or opposes the decision to award a singer-songwriter the Nobel Prize in Literature. Your argument should include a clear claim, logical reasons, and evidence that is relevant and sufficient.

Answer 1

This question asks for an essay, which is a personal task that we cannot provide here. However, we are still able to provide some guidance that can help you complete your work.

The fact that Bob Dylan was awarded a Nobel Prize was very controversial among the public. However, I believe that this award was justified.

Those who disagree with the decision argue that songs are not usually considered literature, and that the prize should only take into account works such as novels, short stories, poems and essays. Others have argued that, while influential, Dylan's songs do not have the quality that is often expected from a Nobel Prize winner.

However, I believe there are enough arguments to justify this decision. First, Dylan's songs are very complex and rich. They use a wide vocabulary and literary devices that are commonly found in works of great quality. Moreover, Dylan references many other works of great writers, such as Ezra Pound, Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine. This places his work in the literary canon. Finally, Dylan's lyrics have been very influential in cultural, literary and artistic circles. All of this justifies the committee's decision to award him the Nobel Prize.