Curated Video
Macbeth 5.7 Interview: Malcolm and Macduff
In this video, Malcolm and Ralph discuss the aftermath of the battle and the implications of Macduff and Young Seward's deaths. They explore themes of loyalty, honor, and the consequences of tyranny, shedding light on the characters'...
Curated Video
Macbeth 1.7 Imagery: Trumpets, Cherubims, Vaulting
Explore Shakespeare's intricate use of imagery and metaphor in Act 1, Scene 7 of Macbeth, as Davina and Ralph dissect the moral complexities surrounding Duncan's murder. Delve into Shakespeare's evocative portrayal of Duncan's virtues as...
Curated Video
Hamlet 1.5 What the Critics Say
Shakespeare's realistic portrayal of the ghost in Hamlet was unique and likely unexpected compared to the traditional theatrical ghosts that were more fantastical and less emotionally nuanced. This video also touches on new historicism,...
Great Big Story
Shakespeare's language shaped by falconry
Discover how falconry influenced Shakespeare's works and the English language with terms like "fed up" and "haggard."
Wonderscape
Exploring Figures of Speech: Symbolism and More
This video delves into various figures of speech, focusing on symbolism, allegory, onomatopoeia, paradox, and puns. It uses engaging examples, like Shakespeare's works, to explain how symbols convey complex, abstract ideas in literature,...
Wonderscape
Hyperbole: The Art of Exaggeration in Literature
This video unpacks hyperbole, a figure of speech that uses intentional exaggeration for emphasis or humor. It demonstrates hyperbole's widespread use in literature, referencing works by Mark Twain and Lewis Carroll, and includes an...
Wonderscape
Allusion in Literature: Conveying Meaning with Brevity
This video explores allusion, a literary technique that briefly mentions well-known references to convey deeper meanings. It emphasizes the importance of audience knowledge for effective allusions, using examples from Charles Dickens,...
Wonderscape
Decoding Paradoxes: Contradictions in Literature
This video explores paradoxes in literature, explaining how they present self-contradictory statements that reveal deeper truths. It discusses examples like "wise fool" and "bittersweet" and examines George Orwell's use of paradox in...
Wonderscape
The Sounds of Language: Exploring Onomatopoeia
This video delves into the figure of speech onomatopoeia, where words imitate the sounds they describe. It showcases various examples, from the clacking of shoes to the chimes in poems, illustrating how onomatopoeia enhances descriptive...
Wonderscape
Navigating Literary Elements and Techniques
This video provides an in-depth exploration of literary elements and techniques used by writers to craft engaging stories. It covers themes, atmosphere, foreshadowing, diction, and anaphora, offering insights into how these tools shape...
Curated Video
Solitude and Intensity: the Romantic Style of Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson's poetry frequently incorporates the color white, not as a symbol of purity or innocence, but as an emblem of intense emotion and passion, exemplified by her use of "white heat" as a metaphor for the soul's fervor....
Oxford Comma
Why Are There So Many Adaptations of A Christmas Carol?
With close to 400 filmed adaptations and countless stage performances, A Christmas Carol is one of the most adapted works of all time. And so it should be no surprise that many of these versions draw harsh criticism from viewers and...
All Ears English
2088 - Are You a Bookworm? How to Talk About Your Reading Habits in English
Are you a reader? Talking about books is a great way to connect with people. Learn about Lindsay's and Michelle's reading habits and get the key questions to start a conversation about this inspiring topic.
Curated Video
Explaining Literature with Five W's
Explaining Literature with Five W's restates ideas about fictional text by answering who, what, when, where and why questions.
Curated Video
Sandra Cisneros
A trailblazer in more ways than one, Sandra Cisneros was the first Mexican-American woman to be published by a mainstream publisher. Her work brought Hispanic culture to a wider audience of readers.
Curated Video
Lois Lowry
Being a teenager isn’t always easy – but sometimes, books can provide the comfort and guidance we need. Few authors capture the adolescent experience better than young adult author Lois Lowry.
Curated Video
Gwendolyn Brooks
The first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Gwendolyn Brooks wrote about the hardship and struggles of ordinary people.
Curated Video
Colson Whitehead
The first author to win the Pulitzer Prize for two consecutive novels, Colson Whitehead is one of the United States’ most versatile writers.
Curated Video
Amanda Gorman
The youngest inaugural poet in history, Amanda Gorman introduced a new generation to the lyrical power of poetry and became a modern-day icon in the process.
Curated Video
Library of Congress
Home to millions of books and manuscripts, the Library of Congress is a hub of culture and knowledge, pioneering digital accessibility while safeguarding America's rich history.
Curated Video
Ray Bradbury
Awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation, recognizing a lifetime of influential literary works, Ray Bradbury wrote from a desire to “live forever”. Through sci fi, fantasy, horror and mystery to themes of death, loneliness and the dark...
Curated Video
WWII POW Camps on U.S. Soil
Between 1942 and 1946, the U.S. government constructed around 700 POW camps on U.S. soil, housing around 400,000 captured enemy soldiers. But what were the conditions like there?
Curated Video
Shirley Jackson
A master of the macabre, Shirley Jackson explores the creepy underbelly of domestic life, with a sharp focus on the challenges that women face.
Curated Video
Richard Wright
At a time when Jim Crow laws made racial segregation legal across much of the United States, author Richard Wright gave voice to a struggle – as the first African American author to achieve widespread critical and commercial success.