Meaning: The quote "Our American professors like their literature clear and cold and pure and very dead" by Sinclair Lewis, the renowned American novelist, offers a critical insight into the academic approach to literature in the United States. The quote reflects Lewis's perception of the prevailing tendency among American scholars and educators to favor literature that is devoid of emotional and intellectual complexity, preferring instead a dispassionate and detached analysis of literary works.

Sinclair Lewis, known for his satirical portrayals of American culture and society, was a keen observer of the intellectual and cultural climate of his time. The quote suggests that American professors, particularly in the early to mid-20th century when Lewis was writing, tended to approach literature with a certain level of detachment, valuing clarity and precision over the nuanced and multifaceted aspects of literary works. This preference for "clear and cold and pure and very dead" literature can be seen as a critique of the academic inclination to sanitize and sterilize literature, stripping it of its vitality and raw emotional power in favor of a more clinical and analytical approach.

The adjective "clear" implies a preference for straightforward and easily understandable writing, devoid of ambiguity or complexity. This suggests a desire for literature that can be neatly categorized and dissected, avoiding the discomfort of grappling with the messiness and unpredictability of human experience. The emphasis on "cold" reinforces this sense of detachment, hinting at a certain emotional aloofness in the scholarly engagement with literature.

Furthermore, the descriptor "pure" suggests a desire for literature that is untainted by the complexities of real life, free from the impurities of human emotion, social critique, or political commentary. This pursuit of purity may reflect a desire to maintain a certain idealized image of literature, divorced from the messy realities of the world.

Finally, the phrase "very dead" carries a potent metaphorical weight, indicating a preference for literature that is static, lifeless, and devoid of the vibrancy that characterizes living art. This can be interpreted as a critique of the tendency to approach literature as a relic of the past, to be studied and dissected rather than engaged with as a living, breathing form of artistic expression.

In the context of American literary academia, Lewis's quote sheds light on the potential limitations of a pedagogical approach that prioritizes intellectual clarity and detachment at the expense of emotional and intellectual engagement with the complexities of literary works. It suggests a tendency to favor a sanitized and sanitized version of literature that may overlook the richness and depth of human experience that literature can offer.

In conclusion, Sinclair Lewis's quote serves as a thought-provoking commentary on the academic treatment of literature in America, highlighting the potential pitfalls of a scholarly approach that prioritizes clarity, coldness, purity, and lifelessness. It invites readers to consider the implications of such an approach and the importance of preserving the vitality and richness of literature in all its complexity and nuance.