The responses to the survey, on the subject of active cultural pursuits, were varied, but drawing, writing and photography stood out as significant pursuits for more than half the respondents.

Also popular were: webcrafting, observing nature, attending concerts and music festivals, board games, computer games, collecting flashy t-shirts, dining out and travel.

One respondent claimed to have no active cultural pursuits (!)

Among the passive cultural pursuits, reading (with various specific genre interests) stood out as universally popular.

Going to the movies or the theater is apparently a national pastime: cinema was chosen by nearly all respondents, closely followed by music (both classical and modern) and modern theater.

Also popular were: ballet, museums, and premodern art, as well as opera and classical theater.

Apparently equally composed of bookworms and couch potatos, the respondents listed study and television as of equal importance.

No significance attaches to the order in which the various
elements of the Canon are listed. All are equally canonical.

The works of Edgar Allan Poe, particularly the poem"The Raven" Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), American poet and novelist. With a brilliant gift for evocative prose and poetry, Poe's works remain among the most elegant and moody in the English language. His varied efforts produced such somber poems as "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee", and laid the basis for the modern detective and horror genres, in works such as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Tell-Tale Heart". The anniversary of Poe's death, October 7, is celebrated as a national day of remembrance in Corvinia.

The works of William Shakespeare, particularly the play "The Tempest" William Shakespeare (1592-1666), English poet and playwright. A unique genius of unparalleled accomplishment, the 36 plays by the "Bard of Avon", and numerous sonnets, are among the most enduringly popular theatrical pieces in history.

The works of Rudyard Kipling, particularly the poem "Recessional" Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), British author and poet, born in India. A controversial author, much reviled for his supposed imperialist leanings, Kipling nevertheless wrote a number of deeply moving tales inspired by his childhood in India. Among the most well-known are "The Jungle Book" and "Kim", but his massive oeuvre also includes the poem "Recessional", seen as a warning of the decline of the British Empire.

The works of Franz Kafka Franz Kafka (1883-1924), German Czech author. Kafka's darkly surrealist works, which include "Der Proze�" from 1915 and "Das Schlo�" from 1922, have left an indelible mark on later literature.

The works of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973), eminent British philologist, author and poet. Most famous for his seminal work of fantastic literature, "The Lord of the Rings", Tolkien left behind a staggering amount of textual material describing the quintessential fantasy world, Middle Earth, much of which has later been collated, edited and published by his son Christopher.

The music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, particularly the operas Austrian musical prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was an accomplished musician and composer from early childhood, and though he died at an early age, he managed in his brief life to produce a cornucopia of memorable works, including some of the most popular operas of all time, "Don Giovanni", and "The Magic Flute".

The operas of Wilhelm Richard Wagner, particularly "Tristan und Isolde" The German composer Richard Wagner (1813-1883) may rightfully be termed the father of the modern theory of operatic composition, wherein the entire production is composed as a complete work ('Gesamtkunstwerk'). His monumentalist operas include the massive "Ring Cycle" of four operas, as well as the romantic operas "Tristan und Isolde" and "Parsifal".

The works of Joseph Haydn The Austrian composer Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) left behind a huge oeuvre, including approximately 100 symphonies, 14 masses, about 25 operas and operettas, around 400 arrangements of scottish, irish, and welsh popular songs, and numerous other works. Among his more well-known works are the oratorios "Die Sch�pfung" (The Creation) from 1798, and "Die Jahreszeiten" (The Seasons) from 1801.

The films of Ridley Scott, especially "Blade Runner" and "The Duellists" As a director, Ridley Scott has directed numerous works of cinematic art, all showing a clear preoccupation with the skillful use of light to enhance the dramatic setting. Apart from the two named above, Scott has also directed the original "Alien" film, which is a tour de force of the cinematic use of shadows to enhance terror.

The works of the Pre-Raphaelite school The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of young artists ad men of letters, united around the year 1850 to attempt a return to art forms as they supposed them to exist in the European art of the time before Raphael. The group, initially composed of William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Michael Rossetti, Frederick George Stephens, and James Collinson, created a unique style, the quintessence of Romantic art.

The works of Claus Deleuran, particularly "Illustreret Danmarkshistorie for Folket" and "Thorfinn" Claus Deleuran (1946-1996) was probably one of the most influential comics artists in Denmark in the last several decades. His extensive production includes hippie-era fantasies such as "Thorfinn" and "Rejsen til Saturn" (The Journey to Saturn), as well as the amazingly complex and erudite historical-philological masterpiece "Illustreret Danmarkshistorie for Folket". Sadly, Deleuran died before he could complete this brilliant work.

The "Arne Anka" comics, by Charlie Christensen (under the pen name of Alexander Barks) Arne Anka, a Swedish comics character, has absolutely no redeeming social characteristics. He is rude, crude, self-centered, and a drunkard. Nevertheless, there is an undefinable something about Charlie Christensen's obnoxious little duck that has endeared him to millions of Nordic comics readers.

Sean Connery Probably most famous for his depiction of Ian Fleming's debonair secret agent James Bond, Sean Connery (b. 1930) is a versatile and charismatic actor, possessing a strong and witty personality. Among his finest works are the films "The Man Who Would Be King", "Dr. No" and "The Name of the Rose".

Carl Barks (and, of course, his works) Carl Barks (1901-2000) has received only belated fame for his achievements in the field of comics. As an anonymous writer and artist for the Disney corporation, Barks refined the Disney universe, creating numerous characters that won the enduring love of a wide audience, among them Scrooge McDuck, the Beagle Boys, and Gyro Gearloose.

Beer, particularly Pilsner Urquell Beer, to the Corvinian population in general, is the sovereign beverage - not surprisingly, else why would we base our currency upon it?

The Danish collection of songs titled "H�jskolesangbogen" The Danish "H�jskolesangbog" is a collection of songs, old and new, that is a veritable treasury of Danish language and song. The lyrics of Ingemann and Grundtvig, the melodies of Weyse and Gade. Who can live without them?

Games of strategy, particularly the computer game "Civilization II" and the board game "Machiavelli" The true test of one's intellect lies in matching it with another. It is probably why Corvinians are so generally fond of games of skill, particularly games of strategy.

Chocolate Chocolate is an addictive substance. Corvinians are addicted.

Liquorice Liquorice is almost as addictive as chocolate.

Whisky, particularly Scotch single malt There is no agreement among Corvinians as to which is the best whisky - though it must be said that the Prince would pick Ardbeg.

Libraries, public as well as private Ask any Corvinian, and you'll find complete agreement on this - libraries are the very essence of being Corvinian.