THE ROLE OF LITERATURE HAS CHANGED AND TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME, GREAT LITERATURE HAS TO MAKE A CLAIM FOR ITSELF. FOR MANY STUDENTS BEGINNING COLLEGE, LITERATURE HAS NOT BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR LIVES. THEY SHOULD BE TOLD WHAT IT IS AND BE INTRODUCED TO MANY BOOKS, ESPECIALLY CONTEMPORARY ONES, WHICH PEOPLE USED TO READ FOR THEMSELVES. ALTHOUGH ENGLISH DEPARTMENTS NOW EXIST, PROFESSIONAL CONCERN WITH LITERATURE IS NO GUARANTEE OF MORAL IMAGINATION OR UNUSUAL INTELLIGENCE. THE MAJOR QUESTION IS HOW A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY CAN FIND SELF-EVIDENT A TRADITION FOUNDED ON THE INSIGHTS OF A SELECT FEW. NOR CAN THE GREAT TRADITION BE SELF-EVIDENT TO STUDENTS WHOSE EDUCATION OFTEN HAS BEEN UTILITARIAN AND WHOSE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE DIMINISH THE INTELLECTUAL AUTHORITY OF RELIGION. EFFORTS TO RE-ESTABLISH THE LITERARY TRADITION HAVE BEEN MADE BY T.S. ELIOT AND OTHERS, AND TODAY, DESPITE THE EMPHASIS ON THE CONCEPTUAL, ABSTRACT, AND MANIPULATIVE, MUCH CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE EXPRESSES THE SPIRIT AND PARADOX OF MAN'S CONDITION. THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW," SECTION 7, JULY 30, 1967, PAGES 3-4, 30. (BN)