Naturally, you learn a million things in college, but are you really a high culture know-it-all yet? Before you can call yourself a well-read graduate, there are a few classic novels that you have to read. Whether it is because you simply cannot miss a reference or because it is important to be exposed to the literary culture that many professors hold dear, these are the novels for you!

1. "To Kill a Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee

Narrated by the innocent six-year-old Scout, this novel questions race, disability and morality through the trial of Tom Robinson. Though most people can't make it through high school without reading it for English Class, it is a must-read before any college course.

2. "The Great Gatsby" By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Forget Leonardo DiCaprio, the dense description and eloquent phrases in this novel will pull you in after the first chapter. Face the delusion of the American Dream through the eyes of Nick Carraway and actions of Jay Gatsby.

3. "1984" by George Orwell

The original dystopian society novel that shook the ideas of government and control. Our protagonist, Winston, struggles against the authority of an all-powerful government. In order to understand a "big brother" reference, you have to crack this one open.

4. "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller

Full of social commentary, this play was written about the Salem witch trials. It forces you to question moral boundaries and experience the cruelty of corruptness and deceit. Get a history lesson while you read!

5. "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath

A young writer struggles through the toils of mental illness and suicidal thoughts. A powerful feminist novel, it paints the picture of oppression so beautifully that it is in some way relatable to every person.

6. "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

This novel, heavy with metaphor, follows the protagonist Guy Montag. In a world where all books and recorded history is about to go extinct, he begins illegally hoarding literature. Another phenomenal dystopian must-read.

7. "The Things They Carried" By Tim O'Brien

Dive into the complex world of the Vietnam war as O'Brien comments on the morality of fighting for your country. Based in part on Tim O'Brien's own experiences, this novel makes you question the reality of war and value the characteristics that make us human.

8. "Slaughterhouse-five" by Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut describes being "unstuck" in time as his protagonist is experiencing time in a confusing heap. Billy Pilgrim's reality is altered after he is abducted by aliens. Questioning realism and nostalgia, this novel has the perfect amount of emotion and culture.

9. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll

The beautiful world of wonderland is Carroll's metaphor for the unpredictable chaos of life. As it is well written and delightfully interesting, you are able to encounter the iconic wonders of wonderland as if it is reality.

10. "The Stranger" by Albert Camus

While following the questionable actions of Meursault, discover the meaning of absurdism and existentialism in literature. This novel takes you out of fictional worlds and into the mind of an arguably complex man. After reading this one book, themes of questioning one's existence begin to reveal themselves in a lot of literature.

11. "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare

Many modern shows and movies are based off of "Hamlet", it would be a shame if you couldn't make the connection. If you are going to read any Shakespeare, this book is the one to read. I mean, who doesn't want to hear about a man who is pretending to be crazy in order to avenge his father's death?

Have you read all of them yet?