>but if we're talking about value-conferring ideas contained in works, it seems likely that they would become common parts of culture given enough time and exposure.
Even if we constrained them in their "value-conferring ideas", the power of such ideas in those books comes from experiencing the emotions and subtleties involved in their storytelling.
Without that, a raw "takeaway" idea will have neither the required buildup, nor the emotional impact required to affect one hearing it.
Plus, a key part of literature is not about value-conferring ideas, but about experiencing others' lives and ways of thinking and looking at the world. This is totally lost in plot summaries.
Even if we constrained them in their "value-conferring ideas", the power of such ideas in those books comes from experiencing the emotions and subtleties involved in their storytelling.
Without that, a raw "takeaway" idea will have neither the required buildup, nor the emotional impact required to affect one hearing it.
Plus, a key part of literature is not about value-conferring ideas, but about experiencing others' lives and ways of thinking and looking at the world. This is totally lost in plot summaries.