This book, which is most suitable for high school or junior college teachers, is a guide to the teaching of twelve of Shakespeare's plays. For each play the authors include an opening essay about the general character of the play, its main theme, and the dramatic design expressing this theme. A detailed discussion of the dramatic action follows,…

Intended as an accessible resource for students researching "The Canterbury Tales," this collection of essays about Geoffrey Chaucer's (d. 1400) classic work contains an in-depth biography of the author and writings from a wide variety of sources. The essays are edited to accommodate the reading and comprehension levels of young adults;…

Describes a "Shakespeare Coursework Unit" in which Shakespearean and other literary works of the Tudor era were analyzed for evidence of the gender biases prevalent in that period. Notes that by the end of the course, students accepted the assertion that textual analysis is never truly completed. (SG)

Asserts that bringing politics into the classroom can help students to become critical thinkers and effective communicators. Argues that, as students begin to desire and even create their own Camelots by improving themselves and then their governments, they learn what the world needs teaching. Describes the process used to bring politics into the…

States that Great Britain's National Curriculum pre-20th century list of prescribed authors is overloaded with unrealistic choices. Reports on a small-scale survey of actual choices made by teachers from this list. Calls for further research. Discusses teaching treatments of actual texts and makes a case for recognizing the work of the poet John…

Describes how, at a school in Texas, Shakespeare becomes a teaching vehicle for learning-disabled students as they engage in a year-long class that studies Shakespeare and his times, as well as produce an entire play. Argues that the experience works so successfully because it is student-centered, collaborative, and experiential. (SR)

Based on the idea that a wide range of individualization in the classroom is necessary to both stimulate the students and to meet their needs, this paper presents a complete course in English Literature based on the learning contract system. Included in the paper are a course outline with the objectives and the rules for the class; a title page…

Franco Zeffirelli's film "Romeo and Juliet" is appropriate for classroom study because of its relevance to today's youthful rebellion, to current social pressures, and to the generation gap. After viewing the film and seeing the images and moods of the performers, the students are better prepared to read the play imaginatively. (Numerous…

Australian Literature, in spite of the cultural and creative handicaps imposed on a developing country, is becoming accepted on the international literary scene. Contemporary novels and drama have imaginatively combined characteristic Australian themes and myths with European artistic traditions, while poetry has shown a concern with universal…

One of a series of works aimed at presenting contemporary critical opinion on major authors, this collection includes essays by Albert Guerard, Donald Davidson, Morton Dauwen Zabel, D. H. Lawrence, John Hollowan, Dorothy Van Ghent, John Paterson, A. Alvarez, Delmore Schwartz, W. H. Auden, David Perkins, and Samuel Hynes--all dealing with the…

Recounts experiences studying Eliot's novel at an NEH summer seminar. (NKA)

Suggests a method of teaching the poetry of Alexander Pope that focuses on the satirical nature of his writing. (AEA)

Examines how students' difficulty in understanding Chaucer stems from differences between modern and medieval assumptions about the function and method of narrative. (CRH)

Intended as an accessible resource for students researching William Shakespeare's (1564-1616) "Comedies," this collection of essays about the great playwright contains an in-depth biography and writings taken from a wide variety of sources. The essays are edited to accommodate the reading and comprehension levels of young adults; each…

Intended as an accessible resource for students researching William Shakespeare's (1564-1616) poetry, this collection of essays about Shakespeare's sonnets contains an in-depth biography of Shakespeare and writings from a wide variety of sources. The essays are edited to accommodate the reading and comprehension levels of young adults; each essay…