Discusses several plays concerning the treason of Benedict Arnold to demonstrate the changing taste in nineteenth century American drama. The plays move from neoclassic--with the depiction of the tragic stature of Andre--through the more melodramatic and gothic emphasis on Arnold's vengeful treachery to the unqualified romantic heroism of…

This paper describes an elective literature course that examines the cultural and historical context of Western United States literary works for insights into the whole of United States culture. From a definition of the "West" that has both geographical and mythical dimensions, the following major images emerge for study: Eden, El…

Examines several films of Francois Truffaut. (RB)

Rejects the thesis that an uncanny matchup of literary characters with their visual doubles made "The Maltese Falcon" a success. (RB)

Presents a brief history of "Cabaret" and analyzes the cinematic version for character changes which differ from the story originally written by Christopher Isherwood. (RB)

Analyzes the difficulty of adapting Faulkner's "Sanctuary" to film, concluding that a genuine work of art, conceived in one medium, resists being transferred to another art form. (RB)

Discusses the controversy surrounding Ken Russell's interpretations of the materials on which he bases his films. (RB)

Discusses and appraises the work of Nobel Prize winning black author Toni Morrison. Locates thematic and stylistic antecedents in the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky and Ernest Hemingway. Compares and contrasts Morrison's work with Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" and discusses the critical reception of black authors. (MJP)

Uses the example of Samuel Richardson's readers' responses to his characters as "real" to illustrate the importance of readers' attitudes toward book characters. (DD)

Identifies and discusses some recurring characteristics of the wise/witch woman (one of the most interesting stock figures in recent fantasy writing for preadolescent readers) in three recent books. Finds a richly varied portrayal of these powerful women. (SR)

Presents a rhetorical perspective for examining Shakespearean dramatic texts and an instructional framework for translating that perspective into the teaching of solo performance of Shakespearean dramatic literature. Describes techniques for implementing classroom performance that will develop and demonstrate student understanding of the text.…

Analyzes how literary training in content, character, style, and world view might affect one's view of the world of politics. (DD)