ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Breaking Barriers: Critical Discussion of Social Issues
Through a series of picture book read-alouds and journal entries, students engage in critical discussion of complex issues of race, class, and gender.
Bill Carson
Puritan and Reformed Writings: The Poems of Edward Taylor
Biographical information with an emphasis on personality and poetic themes of Edward Taylor. Contains a list, opening lines, and links to Taylor's major works. Contains quotations from critics.
National Library of France
National Library of France: Emile Zola
An in-depth exhibition of Emile Zola's life, thought, and works. This exhibition, presented by the National Library of France, divides Zola's life into three divisions and uses his writings and art to show his devotion to Naturalism....
Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore
Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore
The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore has created one of the more thorough websites on Poe. It presents many essays on his life and various aspects of his works, as well as the texts of most of Poe's writings, including his poetry,...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Bright Morning
Use this lesson plan to delve into the exploration of character development in fiction through the novel "Bright Morning," by Scott O'Dell.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Considering a Feminist Perspective
This lesson plan explores issues surrounding understanding perspective and the power of opinion. Included in the lesson plan is an overview, practice, objectives, resources, preparation, and more.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Book Report Alternative: The Elements of Fiction
Analyzing a book takes the form of creating their own when students complete this activity. The stated goal is to help students "Read like writers." Includes link to a template for student use.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Archibald Mac Leish
This site houses three poems in full text from the great American poet Archibald MacLeish (1892-1982 CE), as well as criticism on two of his most famous. The three pieces are 'Baccalaureate', 'Two Poems from the War', and 'An Eternity'.
Other
Civil War Book Reviews
This site provides good examples of critical book reviews of Civil War literature.
Virginia Tech
Some Observations About Hawthorne's Women
A somewhat Freudian look at Hawthorne's characters, this critical essay includes source references.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Edwin Arlington Robinson
This well-organized site offers a useful discussion of all phases of his life and work. Suggested motivation and influences of the author's work. Includes critical discussion of several popular poems.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Robert Penn Warren
This site offers excerpts from interview with Warren about a reunion at Vanderbilt in 1956, on his writings and values, on HAWKS, on rhythm in prose. There is also a review of HEARTS OF AUTUMN. This site also has a photo of Warren.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass and American Non Fiction
This lesson plan serves as an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing and focuses primarily on teaching some basic approaches to recognizing rhetorical strategies adopted for persuasive effect in essays and non-fiction. The...
PBS
Pbs: Culture Shock: Huck Finn in Context
This site features information on themes from Huck Finn. You will find activities and discussion questions to accompany the different sections.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Units: Teaching Units
Complete teaching units (12) by grade level. CommonLit units are crafted to be both engaging and rigorous, featuring a variety of literary and informational texts from diverse sources. Reading, writing, and discussion are prioritized in...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: The Rookie Project
This is a three-part writing project which includes a research paper, a creative short story, and a movie review inspired by the movie, The Rookie. The lesson is easily adapted to other appropriate films of similar themes.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Animal Farm: Allegory and the Art of Persuasion
This lesson plan will introduce learners to the concept of allegory by using George Orwell's widely read novella, Animal Farm. Through this novel, students will learn what an allegory is, the rhetorical components of an allegory, and...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning:ap Lit : Alienation, Disaffection, & Estrangement
This AP unit focuses on the themes Alienation, Disaffection, and Estrangement using the Kate Chopin works: The Awakening and "The Story of an Hour" and "The Unknown Citizen" by W.H. Auden. It includes links to these text including audio...
PBS
Pbs Ken Burns: American Lives: Mark Twain
In his time, Mark Twain was considered the funniest man on earth. Yet he was also an unflinching critic of human nature, using his humor to attack hypocrisy, greed and racism. In this series, Ken Burns has created an illuminating...
Rutgers University
Rutgers University: Johnson on the History of the Language
Critical analysis of Johnson's use of literary sources in his dictionary, and his contribution to the development of modern English. Includes extensive notes and bibliography.
Rutgers University
Rutgers University: Use, Elegance, and National Identity in Johnson's Dictionary
An analytical discussion of Johnson's use of literary technique in his dictionary. It includes notes and bibliography.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Stress, Inc.
Students explore the physical and psychological effect of stress and tension on human beings. Concepts of stress and stress management are introduced. Students discover how perception serves to fuel a huge industry dedicated to...
Library of Congress
Loc: Teachers: The Grapes of Wrath
A Library of Congress lesson on "The Grapes of Wrath," through which students discover how cultural artifacts from the book support its themes and see connections "between the social, cultural, and literary contexts of literature."
New York Times
New York Times: Crossword Puzzle: National Poetry Month
The New York Times Learning Network has developed interactive and printable crossword puzzles. The theme of this puzzle is poetry.