Story highlights Dylan rewarded for "having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition"

Dylan, 75, is the 108th winner of the most prestigious literature prize in the world

(CNN) The 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, for "having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."

The Swedish Academy's permanent secretary, Sara Danius, said Dylan, 75, "is a great poet in the English-speaking tradition." She drew parallels between his work and that of ancient Greek poets.

BREAKING 2016 #NobelPrize in Literature to Bob Dylan "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition" pic.twitter.com/XYkeJKRfhv — The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 13, 2016

"If you look back, far back, 2,500 years or so, you discover Homer and Sappho and they wrote poetic texts that were meant to be listened to, that were meant to be performed, often with instruments -- and it's the same way with Bob Dylan," she said.

Although Dylan is not in the established canon of literary writers, Danius praised his creative output over five decades, including his constant reinvention of himself. She also described him as "a wonderful sampler, a very original sampler."

Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Bob Dylan smokes a cigarette circa 1966. Dylan's music spoke to a generation of people during the 1960s, a tumultuous decade that forever changed America. He went on to become a rock 'n' roll legend and influence many musicians to come. In October 2016, the Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Dylan for "having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition." Hide Caption 1 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan performs in 1961 at The Bitter End club in New York City. His first album, "Bob Dylan," debuted in 1962 and consisted mostly of old folk songs. Hide Caption 2 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Joan Baez and Dylan perform during the March on Washington, a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, on August 28, 1963. Hide Caption 3 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan performs on stage in the 1960s. Dylan was known in his early career for playing the guitar and the harmonica, and for his distinctive vocal phrasing. Hide Caption 4 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan listens to recordings of his album "Highway 61 Revisited" in 1965. It contained "Like a Rolling Stone," which went to No. 2 on U.S. charts. Hide Caption 5 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation George Harrison and Dylan perform in the Concert for Bangladesh, held August 1, 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The concert earned them the Grammy Award for Album of the Year along with Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, Leon Russell, Ravi Shankar and Ringo Starr. Hide Caption 6 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan appears on set for the film "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" in 1973. Dylan also recorded the soundtrack for the film. Hide Caption 7 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan performs on stage at Madison Square Garden in 1974. Hide Caption 8 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan performs with Robbie Robertson of The Band, right, and Van Morrison at The Band's farewell concert in 1976. Hide Caption 9 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan performs with Tom Petty at Farm Aid in Chicago in 1985. Hide Caption 10 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan poses for a photo with David Bowie in 1985. Hide Caption 11 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan and Bruce Springsteen perform together in 1990. Hide Caption 12 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Performance artist Michael Portnoy is taken off stage during Dylan's performance at the Grammy Awards in 1998. Portnoy had been hired as part of the background dancers for the performance, but his shirtless interruption was not planned and he was carted off stage. Hide Caption 13 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan performs in Brighton, England, in 2002. Hide Caption 14 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan appears with actress Jessica Lange during a news conference for the movie "Masked and Anonymous" in 2003. Dylan co-wrote the movie and starred in it. Hide Caption 15 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan poses for photos at the University of St. Andrews after he received an honorary degree at the Scottish school in 2004. Hide Caption 16 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation Dylan performs during the Grammy Awards in 2011. Dylan has won 10 Grammys in his career, as well as one Golden Globe Award and one Academy Award. Hide Caption 17 of 18 Photos: Bob Dylan: Voice of a generation President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dylan in the East Room of the White House in 2012. The award is the country's highest civilian honor. "I remember, you know, in college, listening to Bob Dylan and my world opening up, 'cause he captured something about this country that was so vital," Obama said. Hide Caption 18 of 18

Dylan's music and lyrics spoke to a generation of people during the tumultuous 1960s and helped galvanize the civil rights movement. His influence continues to permeate through rock, pop and folk music today.

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