Draws on a report produced by the Suffolk schools concerning the factors that seem to underlie success at "A" level English literature at six schools. Suggests that the factors of greatest significance were the subject expertise and commitment of staff; the balance of teaching methods used; and the pupil's experience of a challenging…

Considers how while some Robin Hood books are clearly intended for young readers, others blur the boundaries, sometimes in ways that help break down artificial boundaries dividing fiction for children from that for adults. Explores the legend's long history to help understand why the story lends itself to such a wide variety of retellings.…

An experimental group studied Macbeth in an independent, constructivist setting using multimedia; the control group studied traditionally. Eleven of 23 experimental students and 2 of 21 in the traditional class failed. In an experiment with Hamlet, the results were reversed. Students were most successful when the teacher was actively involved,…

Describes the results of a study in which 32 English teachers were requested to identify passages of verse disguised as prose. Analyzes which features enabled the readers to recognize the poetry passages. (KEH)

Argues that the interaction among the various sub-discourses that collectively constitute English as a discipline can keep alive a vision of English teachers not simply as critics, composition people, or even poets, but as men and women of letters. (RAE)

Questions whether English literature should be retired from the two-year college curriculum or, at the very least, altered. Contends that the time has come to require the English literature course as prerequisite to college entrance and eliminate it from the first two years of college study. (MS)

Describes the Berg Collection of the New York Public Library, a special collection of 19th- and 20th-century English and American literature, written by the daughter of the collection's first curator. The development of the collection by the Berg brothers is described, and growth and expansion of the collection is discussed. (LRW)

Includes "Living Proofs" (Husain), "The Classics in Context" (Cahill), and "When Science Gets Racy" (Lozada), articles that describe a new method for teaching applied mathematics, English literature, and science. (JOW)

Performance was examined for five cohorts of 1998-2002 Texas public high school graduates through their first year and 1998-2001 cohorts through their fourth year of Texas public higher education. Student performance on college outcomes included (a) first- and fourth-year grade point averages (GPAs), (b) first- and fourth-year credit hours earned,…

Labeling literary or artistic periods is always tricky, and labeling an emerging period (such as this post-postmodern one) is, of course, impossible. Harold Bloom has labeled this period the "chaotic age" because of the canon wars that have raged among factions. One writer with a place in any canon and who is an anodyne to the chaos of…

Designed for young adults, this book on William Shakespeare's tragedies is one of an anthology series providing accessible resources for students researching great literary lives and works. Contributing writers' essays in the book are taken from a wide variety of sources and are edited to accommodate the reading and comprehension levels of young…

This paper examines several language learning and teaching experiences described in the literary works of Burroughs's "Tarzan of the Apes," Shakespeare's "Henry V," Scott's "The Jewel in the Crown," and Alcott's "Little Women." In all cases, the language being learned was not necessary for daily activities, yet each case demonstrates that language…

This paper briefly explores the related enterprises that assisted Virginia Woolf in her effort to re-form the English novel to include, not only the deeds, but the thoughts of her characters. Among these enterprises were Woolf's diaries, which she utilized to practice writing, work out her writing philosophy, and collect observations which would…

This paper describes the life of Mary Wollstonecraft, the pioneer feminist, author, and educator in 18th century England and how the influences of rational education caused her to be an advocate of women's education beyond social deportment and menial activities. Wollstonecraft believed that education should be built on strengthening a women's…

This handout is a guide to library resources in the J. Murrey Atkins Library at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, for the study of the 19th-century English authors Branwell, Anne, Charlotte, and Emily Bronte. The guide is intended to help readers find resources in the Atkins library for biographical and critical material on the Brontes.…