Of course, they made the award based on - I would imagine - his poetic gifts, and the incredible importance of song, and protest song, - especially in modern American culture - as a form of creative art that can loosely be accepted as great literature (and may serve to open up the idea of - and access to - what can be considered as 'literature' to greater numbers of people, minorities, the poor, the alienated, women, who have - traditionally - been excluded from access to and participation in - what has been considered, and viewed as 'literature').
But having poetic gifts need not excuse you from having to acknowledge the normal courtesies of what might be considered 'good manners'.
The one does not exclude the other.
"Must be expected"? No.
Angry young men are one thing, but angry old men quite another.
Yes, the Academy are taking it calmly, but my own view is that this is petulant self-indulgence on the part of Bob Dylan.
The award itself deserved better, and deserves to be considered with respect, and he can gracefully acknowledge the gesture they made - in expanding the definition what might be viewed as 'literature' to include song, and protest song, while conceding that he, personally, is not comfortable with having been chosen as the recipient of this prestigious award but thanks them for having chosen him from so many worthy possible recipients.
Two lines. All it requires is a written response of two lines.
In fact, two lines that should not be beyond the wit of a poet - that is, someone who ought to be comfortable with words and language and meaning - and expressing himself thus.
Personally, I would be of the opinion that two such lines would satisfy honour, integrity and yet show some respect and show some courtesy - which is more than etiquette, it is also acknowledging that your needs and feelings are not the only ones that need to be indulged and satisfied in this world, that the opinions and feelings of others matter, too - along with a little bit of basic good manners.
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