This article draws upon evidence from letters, prose, poetry, and biographies of William Butler Yeats and concludes that this nineteenth-century poet probably suffered from dyslexia. (DB)

Suggests that Shakespeare's intense self-consciousness of the theatrical conventions within which he was working, associated with an emphasis on studying the text as produced, has to be an important starting point for any classroom study of Shakespeare on film. Offers ideas for teaching such films, such as the Zeffirelli production of "Romeo…

Argues that English folk verse is tightly patterned at the level of the quatrain, and rhythmic cadences are arranged in nonrandom, essentially strategic fashion. Examines why 26 truncation patterns are adhered to consistently through multiple stanzas. Explains the relevance of optimality theory to the study of quatrain types, developing an…

Argues that the 1996 film of "Romeo and Juliet" (starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Claire Danes, and transposed to inner-city gang culture) is a gripping presentation of Shakespeare's story of star-crossed lovers in an impulsive, hot-headed, violent world. Suggests that the film is practically guaranteed to make students love Shakespeare.…

William Shakespeare's "Othello" can be used as a project for drama study that might be culminated into a performance not of the play but of the writing and interpretive work completed by the students. The works of Theresa Toomey Fox, her Othello curriculum and the review of research and theory that supports an arts integration approach to teaching…

Language arts are at the forefront of education these days. Instructors at all levels are being encouraged to teach writing in their courses, even if those courses cover subjects other than English. Literature instructors have long used fiction to teach composition. But because the novel reflects a broad range of human experiences and historical…

The cognitive learning style is an indispensable variable in the composite of the teaching-learning process. Pedagogically, it can be useful if instructors explore what type of learners they are in addition to the mode of learning preference their students depict. This can bridge the gap between training and evaluating procedures. The study…

An examination of the additions, deletions, and revisions of the 2-volume "Norton Anthology of English Literature" (the most popular text used by college teachers) from the 1962 first edition to the 1986 fifth edition, sought to identify those changes which would confirm the editors' stated purposes in the prefaces and to speculate on…

The major resources for the study of English literature are described including works (1) covering the whole spectrum, and (2) works dealing with particular periods--medieval through the 20th century, and genres--poetry, drama, and prose. Emphasis is placed on criticisms and bibliographies of primary sources, and a title and author index is…

Argues that literary criticism, which has focused on the relevance of literary works to their context in society, must also address specific political issues confronting society. (RB)

Charles Dickens was not only a master novelist but was also a master in the art of performance. His distinctive reading style was in marked contrast to the standard practices of mid-nineteenth century elocution, but his unique readings and performance philosophy closely resemble the text-centered approach of modern oral interpretation. Considered…

THE SITUATIONS ENCOUNTERED AND THE METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS EMPLOYED IN TEACHING ENGLISH LITERATURE TO COLLEGE-LEVEL FOREIGN STUDENTS ARE DISCUSSED. DANGERS INHERENT IN SIMPLIFYING ENGLISH LITERATURE, AS WELL AS DIFFICULTIES ARISING FROM LITERARY STYLES TOO COLLOQUIAL OR ARCHAIC FOR NONNATIVE SPEAKERS, ARE POINTED OUT. NONCOMPREHENSION OF…

Designed as a practical aid to the reading of Chaucer, this glossary may be used with any of the widely read editions of his works. Its primary aim is to explain the meanings of words and phrases used by Chaucer in ways that are unfamiliar in modern English. The glossary includes many words now in common use that had a different range of senses or…