Examine representations of gender and sexuality in Restoration and 18th-century literature including Paradise Lost and The Rape of the Lock, and explore the works of early women writers such as Aphra Behn, Frances Burney and Margaret...

The Civil Wars and the Restoration of the monarchy, the Enlightenment or 'Age of Reason', and British colonialism: investigate the political and religious contexts of Restoration and 18th-century literature.

Discover some of the earliest heroes and heroines in English literature, from Beowulf to King Arthur. What are the typical characteristics of a medieval hero, and what can this reveal about society in the Middle Ages?

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...

In this lesson unit, students 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 Juliet, A Sport of Nature by...

Refer to this twenty-two page study guide for information on author Chaim Potok and his novel, "The Chosen." Includes detailed background information on Judaism and the novel's setting, as well as activities, discussion questions, and...

An interactive and printable crossword puzzle developed by the New York Times Learning Network. The theme of this puzzle is Literary Terms. Other links are included.

Decent site that focuses on Jewish Holocaust literature. Discusses main themes and major works of movement.

A short group of exercises for students concerning the elements of a short story. Allows students to examine the major story elements, then apply those elements to a given piece of literature.

Read articles that address the following questions about the end of the 19th-century literature: What are the key tropes of late 19th-century literature? How did writers respond to the desires and anxieties of the time? How did...

These articles answer the following questions about novels between 1832-1880: From Charles Dickens to Charlotte Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell to George Eliot, how did the writers of this period use fantasy, realism, sensationalism, and...

How did rising literacy rates, libraries, and new technologies influence literature and reading habits during the Romantic and Victorian periods? These resources answer this question.

From the origins of the Gothic to depictions of the emerging middle-classes, these articles explore the key characteristics of late 18th- and early 19th-century literature.

These articles research the following questions related to the Victorian Age: Why was crime such a popular subject in 19th-century fiction? How did literature balance fear, social commentary, and entertainment? How were gruesome murders...

This lesson is an introduction to the modern short story including defining the short story, how the modern short story differs from the classic short story, the elements of a short story, and what is to be expected in this unit.

This lesson is an introduction to The Tempest, a play by William Shakespeare. It features a list of essential questions for the unit.

This lesson focuses on Native American myths including the creation myth "The Earth on Turtle's Back." It includes links to the above myth, a self-assessment quiz, and an assignment for a mini-report over a Native American tribe.

These activities encourage young people to join the debate about how to stage and cast Othello. They will debate the pros and cons of different productions and plan how they would stage the play if they could do so themselves. Included...

Arundhati Roy won worldwide recognition for this fascinating novel. Read about the characters, themes and important quotations in this excellent site.

This annotated collection of poems focuses on the theme of war in the late 1700s. Good for an interdisciplinary look at British history or for a literary exploration of war as a theme.

NovelGuide.com provides a thorough study guide including summaries, character profiles, metaphor and theme analysis, quotes, and an author biography.

This two-page PDF provides a list and brief explanation of the "Elements of Drama" based on the structure of Greek Drama as outlined by Aristotle. These include: Thought, Theme, Ideas; Action, Plot; Characters, Language, Music, and...

This Victorian Web site features links to documents about the life, works, and times of the poet and critic Matthew Arnold (1821-1888). Content ranges from the genre, themes, and imagery found in his literary works, to a biography,...

This site, from publisher Houghton Mifflin's online syllabus assistance for college instructors, provides helpful information for the study of Jen's works, including commentary on themes and style and questions for analyzing the works.