Discusses the fiction of Alice Walker, showing that, in employing folklore for the purposes of defining characters, illustrating relationships among them, and developing plot, Alice Walker comments on the racial situation in the United States, often chastising her black characters for their attitudes toward themselves. (JM)

Presents a critique of Mildred D. Taylor's "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" with regard to its positioning of the child subject. Proposes that the novel contrasts classic works of children's fiction by following a trajectory of child agency, which is enabled through the novel's racial specificity. Discusses the role of historical…

Images of people can serve several purposes in works of art. Individuals have had their likenesses embellished or altered for political, social, or religious purposes. Or, images of individuals have been employed by other people to fit their needs. This Learning Packet, designed for use with grade levels 1-8, addresses three themes: (1)"People as…

The purpose of this study was to investigate how some ways of making sense of the world get privileged over others when teachers and students use specific educational films in specific learning environments. The methods of formalist and ideological film analysis are used to describe how educational films are distinct in their form and style from…

Vietnam War literature offers students a unique mix of themes which in many ways speak directly to them as, perhaps, no other literature is able to. This literature can help them better understand literature, history, the world they live in, and themselves, as well as the Vietnam War. A sequence of classroom activities (beginning with an…

Articles in this issue focus on adolescent literature. The first article is a reflection by author Katie Letcher Lyle on her personal experiences since the publication of her last novel. The second article examines the dramatic power of the novels of Alice Childress. The third article reports the results of a questionnaire on the reading…

The image of the Puerto Rican in 33 books written between 1950 and 1980 for young adults was examined. Nine reviewers evaluated the books for their characterization of Puerto Rican socioeconomic status, demographic status, educational attainment, family representation, and male/female roles. The negative image of the Puerto Rican that emerged from…

This paper examines the ways that old age is portrayed in literature, focusing on how old people gradually disengage themselves from the social systems in which they live. The writers and works discussed present bleak portraits of old age in contrast to recent scientific assertions that human beings now live healthier, longer, more satisfying…

"Macbeth" is best understood by considering five specific elements: (1) the tragic view--a recognition of man's dignity as well as his vulnerability to evil; (2) the tragic plot--the reversals in the plans of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, the scene of recognition of impending disaster, and Macbeth's continual suffering; (3) the tragic…

As a guide for in-depth study of "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by sixth-graders who have completed the basal reader, this document focuses on ways of enabling each child to find satisfaction and enjoyment in the novel; to develop a greater interest in literature; to gain an understanding of plot development in a story; to realize what…

Many teen-agers readily identify with the family portrayed in "Cheaper by the Dozen" and, consequently, the novel is good supplementary reading for a unit on "The Family." A main objective of one class study of the novel was an analysis of Mr. Gilbreth's personality and his philosophy of life. Students noted his character…

A set of lessons to introduce "Julius Caesar" to secondary school students unfamiliar with Shakespeare is provided in this teaching guide. Only a critical fraction of the play is covered in the lessons. First, a synopsis of a modern high school situation whose conflicts parallel those in "Julius Caesar" is presented; then,…

This research was concerned with a further exploration of the adolescent's capacity to think in formal terms about the consequences of suddenly changed circumstances depicted in literature. Implications for classroom learning are considered. (Author/RK)

Shows that the pervasive violence toward women in Richard Wright's fiction is caused by the irreconcilable oedipal dilemmas that afflict his heroes. (GW)

Describes the Johari Window, a specialized questioning strategy for the study of characterization in fiction. Asserts that this method promotes classroom discussion, provides motivation to analyze a character in depth, develops students' empathy for a specific character, and encourages inferential thinking. (MM)