criticism and interpretation

Collection of essays by Shakespeare scholars that have been selected for students at the high school or undergraduate college level. Each entry includes an introduction; a plot synopsis; a character list; a discussion of the work's principal themes; information about the style and literary devices used; a conversation about the work's historical context; and a critical overview.

"A filmmaker who is stumped but captivated by Emily Dickinson's poetry searches for 'flashes of insight' into the elusive poet beyond those offered by his lively but traditional interviews with experts such as actress Julie Harris and U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins. So he turns to shrinks, a sensitive, a stand-up comic, a rock band, even a fan with an Emily tattoo across his back. Still unsatisfied, he holds auditions in which dozens of actresses recite poems and improvise Dickinsonian answers to questions about God, and Death, and Love. Rising above all the speculation and spectacle are varied readings of over 50 Dickinson poems."--Container.

"This work considers the visual conventions of Japanese comic books and animated films, Miyazaki's early foray into comic books and animation, the Studio Ghibli era, and the company's development. It analyzes all of Miyazaki's productions between 1984 and 2004, including such hits as My Neighbor Totoro"--Provided by publisher.

Accomplished horror writers and directors discuss the relationships between Edgar Allan Poe's tales of terror and his own life.

Discusses the life and works of Joseph Conrad, examines themes of travel and conflict inherent in various texts across the three periods of his writing career, such as "Lord Jim" and "Heart of Darkness," and provides an overview of criticism about his writing, with a guide for further reading.

"Linda Wagner-Martin offers a compelling study of African American writer Toni Morrison's work, beginning with 'The Bluest Eye' in 1970 and continuing through her 2015 novel 'God Help the Child.' Wagner-Martin describes Morrison as an inherently original novelist who was shaped throughout her career by her role within families. Her study focuses on Morrison's use of family in her narratives, particularly on the roles of mother and child"--Provided by publisher.

Reviews and critics the works of Jean Rhys.

A selection of criticism on the novels and two early collections of short stories by British writer Ian McEwan, with editorial commentary, a sketch of the author's career, and excerpts from interviews with McEwan.

"Margaret Earley Whitt explores the canon of the Georgia writer whose work has long haunted and harassed its readers. In a comprehensive survey that encompasses O'Connor's short stories, novels, essays, and letters, as well as the criticism that has proliferated since her death in 1964, Whitt illumines the religious themes and bizarre characters that make O'Connor's prose so strikingly different from other American writers"--Back cover.

Provides an overview of the criticisms surrounding the plays, screenplays, and films of David Mamet.