Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Contemporary Literature: Contemporary Drama
This introduction to contemporary drama focuses on the elements or characteristics of drama and the theme of the American Dream. It features the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, which is set in the 1950s.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: A Death in the Family
Created in association with the Masterpiece Theatre film version of "A Death in the Family," this teacher's guide provides materials for the study of the film or the book. Students will study the life and work of James Agee, determine...
British Library
British Library: Discovering Literature: Eve in Milton's Paradise Lost: Poignancy and Paradox
Eve in Paradise Lost is vainly vulnerable and evidently intellectually inferior to Adam. However, Sandra M Gilbert argues that, though Milton portrays her as a weak character, he also puts her on a par with Satan in her refusal to accept...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Elements of Literature: Determining Methods of Characterization [Pdf]
A brief organizer in which students can document how a character in literature is presented, through either direct or indirect characterization. Provides labels, examples, and sections for textual support.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Brit Lit: 20th Century Postmodernism: Modernism
This is a lesson from a unit on 20th Century Postmodernism; it focuses on Modernism, a period characterized by writers and artists use of new forms in an attempt to find a new truth and a break from existing institutions, forms, and...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Compare/contrast Themes and Genres in Literary Texts
Determining the theme is not easy; you have to use the clues the author leaves to figure it out yourself. The author implies information about the story through plot points, setting, and characters. You infer and draw conclusions based...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Chaucer: Introduction
This is an introduction to Geoffrey Chaucer and his major contribution to Middle English literature in The Canterbury Tales. He is known as ""The Father of English Poetry." The essential questions for the unit focuse on his skill with...
Victorian Web
The Victorian Web: Charles Dickens
This site from The Victorian Web has content that provides a detailed biography and list of works; cultural, economic, social and political contexts; and essays addressing literary themes, imagery, characterization and more in the work...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: American Literature and Composition: Modernism: A Worn Path
This lesson focuses on Eudora Welty, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and her short story "A Worn Path." It provides background on Welty as well as a link to the text, reading questions, and a quiz for the short story.
University of Virginia
"Modernism and the Modern Novel"
The Electronic Labyrinth provides a concise overview of Modernism with a nod to authors and works that characterize the movement.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Jason and the Golden Fleece
Explore characterization, plot and setting and compare these elements in mythology and modern works of literature, film and television. Retell myths in modern settings or modern-day stories using a mythological Greek setting. While this...
Caro Clarke
Describing Your Characters Through Their Actions
This is the tenth in a series of articles designed to help the new novel author. This article focuses on how to develop characters through their actions instead of simply relying on dialogue and description of thoughts. W.11-12.3d...
Caro Clarke
Caro Clarke: What Is Conflict?
This is the sixth in a series of articles designed to help the new writer with their novel. This article focuses on conflict and how it effects the characters and the plot of the story. W.11-12.3a Narratives
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Story, Identity, Unity
Delve into the art of storytelling in this self-guided unit. Multiple topics are covered such as literary genres, the 7 elements of fiction, figurative language, theme, characterization, etc. At the end of the unit, write your own flash...
Other
Steilacoom Historical School District No. 1: Dramatic Justice [Pdf]
In this instructional activity unit, young scholars investigate how justice is perceived and addressed in different cultures and times by examining literature from around the world. Texts examined include: The Tragedy of Romeo and...
Victorian Web
The Victorian Web: Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre
A portal to biographical information and essays related to Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) and her novel "Jane Eyre," including information about social and political history, characterization, themes, genre, setting, imagery, and more.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Literary Elements and Techniques Collection
These animated shorts introduce or review literary elements and techniques like theme, setting, figurative language, characterization, and conflict. They can be used when students are just learning how to identify the most commonly used...
Shmoop University
Shmoop: Big Sur
This semi-biographical novel written by Jack Kerouac set in the 1960s shows the life of Jack Duluoz who is an alter-ego for Jack Kerouac. Read about the characteres and themes in this novel.
Curated OER
Charles Dickens: An Overview
This site from The Victorian Web has content that provides a detailed biography and list of works; cultural, economic, social and political contexts; and essays addressing literary themes, imagery, characterization and more in the work...