Uses the film version of Bernard Malamud's "The Natural" to show how archetypes and irony make their appeal to a serious audience without in any way making the film less entertaining. (EL)

Proposes a study of "Citizen Kane" in high school using a somewhat simplified version of post-modern literary critical theory. Chooses this film because of its familiarity and accessibility and because the ambiguity and indeterminacy of its text allow room for exploration by students. (NKA)

Based on Ken Kesey's novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," this lesson plan presents activities designed to help students understand that all works of art lend themselves to critical reviews; critical reviews consist of opinions and support for the opinions; and a critical review may compare and contrast a work in one medium to the same work in…

Discusses several approaches that students have found helpful for analyzing "Jane Eyre," including point of view, comparison, character development, language, imagery and symbolism, and the novel's elements of autobiography. (HTH)

Outlines the teaching of Edward Thomas' poetry over a six-week period. (SRT)

Discusses the teaching of "Bleak House" to students who are daunted by its length and complexity. Provides suggestions on how to get beyond those complexities and allow students to understand the central concerns of the book. (SRT)

Reexamines the use of the novel, "Murder at the Margin," in college and high school economics instruction. Identifies errors in the book's application of economic principles. Explores the novel's approach to the "prisoner's dilemma" and the making of choices. Concludes that despite problems, the book remains valuable to…

Discusses specific stories and approaches for introducing the works of West Indies author Michael Anthony in secondary school literature classes. (HTH)

Provides a list of 118 reasons why the author's students claim they study American literature, including: (1) to broaden their vocabulary, (2) to learn from other people's experiences, and (3) to develop an open mind about different kinds of literature. (JD)

A teacher discusses how she used criticism of "The Scarlet Letter," when studying the book, in her honors class. The students were also intrigued by the biographical information they learned about Hawthorne, and eager to use it in interpreting his novel. (SRT)

Shows how the advertisement copy for "collectible art" can be used to develop a definition of art. Suggests that middle and high school students should look at the criteria for art offered in the advertisements. Recommends they analyze the terminology used to convince the lay person that the object is "genuine" art. (LS)

Drawing on interviews and on the actual language that readers (students, teachers, and adults) use to interpret and respond to literary texts, this book examines the conventions that shape talk about literature in large groups, small groups, and adult book clubs. By looking across contexts, the four separate but related studies in the book raise…

As a glossary of basic terms for literature study and interpretation, this book draws on recent developments in literary theory and emphasizes the role of reading practices in the reproduction of literary meanings. As well as introducing new terminology relevant to this emphasis, the glossary reviews many traditional terms, such as…

Describes the way that three novels by African-American women--"Browngirl, Brownstones," by Paule Marshall; "The Bluest Eye," by Toni Morrison; and "The Third Life of Grange Copeland," by Alice Walker--captures the shared experiences of Black women. (DB)

Focusing on critics' analyses as well as the author's literary techniques, this annotated bibliography is designed to aid teachers in presenting an in-depth study of John Knowles'"A Separate Peace." Critical annotations are provided for three categories of citations: (1) English-language literary journal articles (17 annotations); (2)…