ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: A Novel That Confronts Bullying in Schools
In a multisession lesson, students read The Bully in stages, discuss the story events and issues related to bullying, and complete graphic organizers to help them organize story information. As students read, they write reflective...
Virtual Salt
Visual Salt: Elements of the Gothic Novel
This site gives a listing and description of the typical elements usually found in gothic novels. It also provides a list of example vocabulary typically found in gothic novels.
British Library
British Library: Discovering Literature: Letters, Letter Writing and Epistolary Novels
This article explores the real and fictional letters published in the 18th century, from the correspondence of Alexander Pope and Ignatius Sancho to Samuel Richardson's hugely popular epistolary novel "Pamela" and the works it inspired.
PBS
Pbs: The American Novel: Literary Timeline: Literary Movements: Modernism
Background on the literary time period known as Modernism, including characteristics of writing at this time as well as a list of important modernist authors.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Making Connections to Myth and Folktale
Excellent online lesson based on N. Scott Momaday's The Way to Rainy Mountain. Students create a three-voice narrative based on the novel in studying and learning about myths and folktales. W.9-10.3a,3b,3d,3e Narratives, W.9-10.5 Writing...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Background for the Graphic Novel Persepolis a Web Quest on Iran
Contains plans for eight lessons that provide information on the Iranian Revolution as background material for the graphic novel "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi. Some resources could be used without the novel. In addition to objectives...
Other
Excerpts From the Writings of Lady Murasaki
Provides excerpts of the writings of Murasaki Shikibu, the author of "The Tale of Gengji," providing an interesting glimpse of the woman.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Become a Character
In this online lesson plan and activity, students actually "become" a character from a novel in their analysis of characterization. The lesson plan uses the Scarlet Letter, but any novel can be used. RL.9-10.3 Analyzing Characters,...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Graffiti Wall: Discussing and Responding to Literature
New ways of thinking about text, collaboration with group members, and presentation skills are all developed with this instructional activity which could be applied to almost any novel read in class. Includes student handouts, an online...
Stanford University
Stanford University: Hard Times Historical Context
A fairly comprehensive look at the history surrounding Charles Dickens' writing the novel Hard Times. Includes information about the setting of the novel itself and the setting during its release to the public.
New York University
Literature Annotations: The Magic Mountain
This thorough summary of the novel also includes a brief commentary on the book as a whole, and Thomas Mann's experience writing it.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Masculine Heroes: James Fenimore Cooper
This brief biography of James Fenimore Cooper highlights his life as an author who was able to incorporate politics, wilderness and Native Americans into fictitious novels. Click on "James Fenimore Cooper Activities" for related materials.
New Zealand Ministry of Education
Nz Ministry of Education: Survival of the Fittest
Students will gather, select, record, interpret, and present information on survivors and their survival strategies gained from reading the novel Hatchet and true life survival biographies. They will produce a piece of comparative...
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Carlos Fuentes
Biography on Mexican novelist, Carlos Fuentes, famous author, scholar and diplomat with great political stature, who produced a trove of essays, short stories and novels. Students can visit photos, interviews and read a profile of Mr....
Bibliomania
Bibliomania: Martin Chuzzlewit (Full Text)
This site contains the full text of Dickens' novel "The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit." A brief summary is also included.
Bibliomania
Bibliomania: The Old Curiosity Shop (Full Text)
This site provides the full text of Dickens's novel "The Old Curiosity Shop." A brief summary is also included.
Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg: Amelia by Henry Fielding
Critically not as well received as Tom Jones or Joseph Andrews, Amelia was Henry Fielding's third novel. The entire text is here, along with a lengthy introduction. Multiple formats of the ebook are accessible via this page.
University of Virginia
University of Virginia: Mark Twain in His Times
A comprehensive look at Mark Twain and many of his novels. "Innocents Abroad", "Tom Sawyer", "Huck Finn", "Connecticut Yankee", and "Pudd'nhead Wilson" are covered. Links are available to the full texts, illustrations, advertising and...
Stanford University
Stanford University: Hard Times Biographical Context
A brief biography of author Charles Dickens, particularly in reference to his writing the novel Hard Times, released in 1854. Includes more information about his early life, literary career, and eventual death and burial.
Fantastic Fiction
Fantastic Fiction: John Steinbeck: Detailed Bibliography and Awards
Here is a chronology of Steinbeck's work. Click on the year to view information about that year. The information on each novel is very brief, but this is a great resource for the covers (some of them the original) of his books.
Other
The Literary Encyclopedia: King, Stephen, (1947 )
Bernice Murphy of Trinity College, Dublin writes a critical look at King's life and work.
Bartleby
Bartleby.com: James F. Cooper
This excerpt from Carl Van Doren's The American Novel (1921) provides a biography of James Fenimore Cooper. Includes interesting details about Cooper's "accidental" introduction to writing. Summarizes his major works and describes his...
Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg: Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott
The sequel to Little Men, Jo's Boys is presented here. Multiple digital formats of the full text are available.
Stanford University
Stanford: Great Expectations Biographical Context
A brief biography of the author Charles Dickens, particularly in reference to his writing the novel Great Expectations. Includes brief but helpful information concerning his birth, early life, and career until the publication of Great...