<p>There are books that you know adcoms would know, like Beloved, Animal Farm, Scarlet Letter.</p>
<p>Then there are books you expect them to know because you expect them to be cultured. For example, the “might” category would go to literature such as Confederacy of Dunces, or The Awakening, Brothers Karamazov, Catch-22, etc.</p>
<p>My question is, should I be using something I expect them to know about? In my case, Calvin and Hobbes. It is a well known comic strip that “cultured” people should know about. Should I use it, not use it, or use it an give a brief explanation of what it is? It plays a large role in my essay, fyi. Thanks.</p>
<p>Reading it again, seems like I gave some bad examples lol. Here’s one that has to do with comics: everyone knows what Garfield, Dilbert, Peanuts, Doonesbury, etc are. Calvin and Hobbes would be the “might”.</p>
<p>I’m sure its well known, I’m just not sure its a household name like Peanuts or Garfield is, or influential enough like Doonesbury or Bloom County is. But I’m probably going to end up using C&H anyways, adcom’s loss for not reading one of the greatest comics strips of all time!</p>
<p>Ugh… this is something I’ve always wondered. But in my experience I think it’s better to be safe and give some context if there is any doubt (in as concise a way as possible).</p>