Provides background on the life of American author F. Scott Fitzgerald and the influences that shaped his life, features fourteen articles that explore class conflict as portrayed in his novel "The Great Gatsby," and examines issues of social class in the twenty-first century.
Provides background on the life of American author Maya Angelou and the influences that shaped her life, features twelve articles that explore racism as portrayed in her autobiography "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," and examines the ongoing issue of racism in the early twenty-first century.
Provides an introductory essay in which Harold Bloom contrasts Homer's "Illiad" with the Hebrew Bible, and includes eight additional articles in which various contemporary scholars offer critical perspectives on Homer and his writings.
A guide to the plays of William Shakespeare that highlights twenty-one of his major plays and lesser known works, explores how his plays have been staged throughout history, lists film adaptations, audio recordings, and live performances, and offers other resources for Shakespeare lovers.
A collection of critical essays about the life and works of poet, playwright, novelist, and public figure, Langston Hughes, that chronicles his childhood in Lawrence, Kansas, and his success as one of the foremost writers of the Harlem Renaissance.
Presents twenty-three works of criticism on five poems by twentieth-century American writer W. S. Merwin, and provides a Merwin biography, primary and secondary bibliographies, and an index of themes and ideas.
Compares and contrasts the work of sixteenth-century poet and playwright William Shakespeare and twentieth-century comedy troupe Monty Python, discussing their status as national poets of England, their uses of history, aspects of theatricality, and other topics.
Presents more than fifty works of poetry by Percy Bysshe Shelley, three of his prose works, and twenty-two essays by such critics as Harold Bloom, Earl R. Wasserman, and Susan J. Wolfson.
A practical resource guide for writing essays on William Shakespeare, with advice for students designed to help them develop their analytical skills and understand Shakespeare's works.
Takes students new to William Shakespeare inside his plays from several angles, exploring character, performance, texts, language, structure, sources, and history.
