Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Main Reading Room: Literary Criticism

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is an annotated list of reference websites for literary criticism.
Handout
University of Toronto (Canada)

University of Toronto Libraries: Glossary of Literary Theory

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A glossary of definitions for terms related to literary theory. Click each word in the glossary list and a definition with examples appears.
Lesson Plan
Other

Teaching Heart: Fairy Tale Lessons & Ideas

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Geared toward grades K-3--offers objectives, materials, procedures, discussion questions and evaluations. Online lesson plans for introducing and teaching basic literary criticism skills.
Handout
Other

Literary Theories: A Quick Sketch

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this page to get the basics on a variety of literary theories.
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Flying to Freedom: Tar Beach & the People Could Fly

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Comparing and contrasting works and looking for underlying themes and messages are at the heart of this multicultural lesson plan. Provides links to several background resources, and suggestions for assessment.
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: What Makes Poetry? Exploring Line Breaks

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
This lesson explains how analyzing poetry is a many-layered process. This lesson introduces the special characteristics of poetry and leads young scholars through a look at how poems are structured and why. Includes links to poems and...
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: It Doesn't Have to End That Way

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Literary response and prediction are the focus of this lesson plan. Knowing story structure is an important skill for literary analysis, and this gives teachers a way to help learners develop this skill. Includes links to web resources,...
Handout
Other

Univ. Of Mississippi: Critical Approaches to Literature

For Students 9th - 10th
Here are nine common critical approaches to the study of literature based on X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia's Literature: An Introductionto Fiction, Poetry, and Drama.
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Book Sorting: Using Observation and Comprehension

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
Critical thinking, comprehension and analysis skills are the focus of this physical activity. Good beginning to teaching different ways of looking at things.
Handout
Washington State University

Washington State University: Literary Critical Theory: Interpretive Strategies

For Students 9th - 10th
Defines various critical approaches in brief. Click the Critical Theory link at the bottom of the page for more detail.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Practical Criticism

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A general introduction to literary criticism, this website provides teachers and students with idea about how to derive meaning from poetry through personal interpretation.
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Book Report Alternative: The Elements of Fiction

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Analyzing a book takes the form of creating their own when young scholars complete this activity. The stated goal is to help students "Read like writers." Includes link to a template for student use.