Methods of studying literature are defined and described. A section on definitions and distinctions investigates literature and literary study; the nature and function of literature; literary theory, criticism, and history; and general, comparative, and national literature. The ordering and establishing of evidence is described. The bulk of the…

Extremists, whether formalists of the New Criticism or of the humanist-moralist tradition, are taken to task in this attempt to combine elements of both in a more pluralistic approach to literary criticism. An analysis of a Frost poem, "Stopping by Woods", is attempted as an illustration of a kind of criticism that seeks to clarify the parts of…

Evaluates the process of reading books, gives three criteria that constitute "good books", and then considers whether these are too strict comparing good and bad literature, old and modern novels. (RK)

Literature is viewed in relation to reality: place and time are important. Through diagrams the author proves that certain authors transcend time and place and can be understood by the educated. (AF)

Describes an experience with a non-directive small group approach to teaching point of view in fiction, concluding that teachers have an obligation to teach sound critical standards. (DD)

Special issue on contemporary Spanish American literature. (DS)

Following the trend of organizing English literature study around "themes" both promotes superficial instruction and neglects a major facet of literature especially appealing to today's youth--that literature is a work of art covering the whole spectrum of man's experience where any of man's feelings, thoughts, and actions may find a place. With…

Western regional writing provides a valuable resource for scholars and teachers. In their accounts of the populating of the West and the effects of that population, Western writers suggest questions that might be asked of any region--questions of skill, culture, race, environment, scenery, and progress. If the genre deals with these matters to a…

The articles in this journal discuss several themes and issues that arise in the teaching of adolescent and children's literature. Topics concerned with the adolescent include a discussion of same-sex relationships in the contemporary novel and the parent image as presented in current literature. In children's literature, books about handicapped…

Three articles are included in this issue of the "Illinois English Bulletin." In "Form Is Not Enough: Thinking the Unthinkable about Teaching Literature," John Milstead recommends a reading program for high school English courses which emphasizes the quantity (rather than quality) of reading material according to individual student interest so…

Concerned with the need to stimulate reading pleasure for older adolescents, this document outlines a high school reading unit that capitalizes on the perennial popularity of series books such as Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Tom Swift. Suggested activities include having students reflect on their personal reading and write a fictional sketch…

This comparative study deals specifically with the teachings of literature to Spanish and English classes in secondary schools. It is designed to assist foreign language teachers develop skills in the preparation of instructional materials and improve their teaching methods. Four chapters include: (1) definition and relevance of literature, (2)…