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Bob Dylan is a poet laureate of the rock era, who's body of work had influenced generations of songwriters and been densely analyzed by fans.

The Swedish Academy handed Bob Dylan a remarkable, unexpected accolade last Thursday and announced that the singer had won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature. The Academy said that he deserve the honor "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition".

Dylan was also the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature since Toni Morrison in 1993.

Dylan's songs such as "Blowing in the Wind" which was written in 1962 was considered the most eloquent folk song of all time, "The Times They Are a Changing" which Dylan told the Americans that "your sons and daughters were beyond your command" was an anthem of the civil rights movement and Vietnam was protest, "Subterranean Homesick Blues", and "Like a Rolling Stone" captured spirit of rebellion, dissent and independence.

In awarding the 8 million Swedish crown ($930,000) prize, Swedish Academy said that "Dylan has the status of an icon and that his influence on contemporary is profound"

Per Wastberg, a Swedish Academy member also said, "He is probably the greatest living poet."

Over the years, not everybody agrees that Dylan was a great poet of the first order. One of the people who doesn't agree that Dylan is a great poet is Novelist Norman Mailer who countered, "If Dylan is a poet, then I'm a basketball player."

Bob Dylan's spokesperson, Elliot Mintz, declined immediate comment when reached by phone. Dylan was due to give a live concert in Las Vegas Thursday evening.

Literature was last of this years Nobel Prizes to be awarded. The prize was named after dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel and has been awarded since 1901 for achievements in science, literature and peace in accordance with his will.