Lit crit guides

As a child growing up in the Deep South, Tom "Tennessee" Williams escaped from his tumultuous home life by retreating into his imagination. His love for made-up stories would eventually translate into a propensity for writing drama and poetry. This compelling text places the playwright's work in the context of his life and times, allowing readers to gain a greater understanding of the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner. Featuring quotes, excerpts, and in-depth critical analysis of his most famous plays as well as his lesser-known works, the text provides an in-depth look at this hard-working, prolific playwright considered by many to be among the greatest of his time.

Jane Austen is one of the most beloved novelists of all time, yet there still remains a certain mystique about the woman herself.

Tan's unique view on the Chinese-American experience and mother-daughter relationships, point of view, and a unique writing style are closely examined.

"As a young man, Eric Blair, better known as George Orwell, traveled to Spain to fight in that country's civil war. Although he was a British citizen, he felt the need to fight for the rights of the oppressed in that country. As the writer of the classics Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, Orwell used his pen to comment on power and corruption in government and how they affect society. This text takes an in-depth look at Orwell's novels and essays inthe context of his own fascinating life and times. It analyzes his style, themes, and use of language, while also asking readers to consider how this prescient author and his works are still relevant in today's world."--Amazon.com.

To appreciate and understand John Steinbeck’s stories, students must comprehend what it was like to live during the Great Depression, and they must understand the working man to whom Steinbeck was attempting to appeal. Through direct quotations; biographical details; and in-depth discussions of his style, themes, and form, this text will allow readers to ponder and interpret Steinbeck’s works.

Edgar Allan Poe’s poems and short stories may be familiar to students, but the life that inspired these tales may still remain a mystery. This text provides readers with an understanding of how Poe’s writing was influenced by the time period in which he lived and the circumstances of his tragic life. Students will learn how to ponder, interpret, and comprehend Poe’s work through critical analysis of his themes, word choice, and style and through direct quotations from Poe himself.

Describes the life and work of author Harper Lee and guides readers to understand how to read and interpret her work.

Living in the southern United States during the civil rights movement, William Faulkner’s work is fraught with depictions of life in the changing South. Through the interpretation of key details of his life, as well as direct quotations and analysis of his word choice and themes, readers will learn how to examine and comprehend Faulkner’s writing for themselves.

Toni Morrison has received the Nobel Prize for Literature, the Pulitzer Prize, and many other awards. But in order to fully appreciate what this amazing author has accomplished, students must know where she came from, the era in which she grew up, and how these details influenced the major themes, style, and language of her writing. Through critical analysis, excerpts, and direct quotations from Morrison herself, this text will allow readers to gain a deeper understanding of her work.

Although Frost’s words may be well-known to most students, the life that inspired his work may not be. By discussing the time in which Frost lived; the events of his life; and an analysis of his themes, style, and language, this text introduces readers to the world of Robert Frost and shows them what made him an American poetry legend.