Combining art and literature, this lesson plan takes a look at how artists drew the line between civilization and wilderness in 19th century America.

"The American Scholar" is a speech given by Ralph Waldo Emerson on August 31, 1837, to the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was invited to speak in recognition of his groundbreaking work "Nature" in which he...

In this lesson plan, young scholars will consider "Jack London's The Call of the Wild: "Nature Faker"?." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.

Author Barry Lopez shares his observations about the literature of place in the United States. In this piece he examines how nature writing addresses the universal theme of connection between humans and the environment.

In this lesson, students will examine the relationship of man and nature as portrayed in "The Open Boat," based on Crane's suffering from a shipwreck on The Commodore in which he spent thirty hours on a small boat at sea before being...

Lorna Dee Cervantes is presented in this brief biography, drawing attention to political and social messages which are camouflaged by vivid use of nature in her writings. See "Lorna Dee Cervantes Activities" for related materials.

This lesson outline summarizes the philosophical issues embedded in the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. This is followed by question sets that teachers can use to guide students in a...

Beatrix Potter may be a familiar name in children's literature, but what a lot do not know is that she is a notable woman of science as well. Find out in this short biography.

This is the text of Chapter 18 of Walden by transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau. By immersing himself in nature, Thoreau hoped to gain a more objective understanding of society through personal introspection. Simple living and...

This site from TheatreHistory.com provides great information on restoration drama. Links are given throughout for additional information on related subjects. The article is medium sized in length and discusses everthing from women...

This site has biographical information on the life and works of Guy de Maupassant. Also included is French text from some of his stories. Listed here are his stories written in French.

Describes the changing nature of historical writing during the later Colonial period in America.