Johnson, Claudia D

Puts Homer's "Odyssey" into context for students, presenting commentary and primary documents on archaeology, mythology, and class issues of Homer's time, and includes government documents and newspaper articles, relating the work to modern events.

Examines how race is addressed in Mark Twain's novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, " discussing the controversies surrounding the book and how Twain's personal beliefs and experiences influenced his writing.

A collection of eighteen essays that critically examine Arthur Miller's classic story of social injustice during the late seventeenth century.

Focuses on the fictional representation of youth gangs in America and traces their origin and development from the early western culture to immigrant gangs of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

A guide to reading and understanding "The Grapes of Wrath" that provides information on the time period the novel takes place in and the plight of migrant farm workers during the Great Depression.

A collection of primary documents that provide historical, social, economic, and regional background information about Steinbeck's novellas "Of Mice and Men, " "The Red Pony, " and "The Pearl.".

Historical documents and commentary designed to help set the novel in the context of its time.

Look at a work of literature through the lens of the major social issue reflected in it, and a variety of perspectives on the literary work.

Contains a collection of essays that explores how women's issues are presented in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "A Scarlet Letter;" provides information on the author's life and the writing of the text; and looks at contemporary perspectives on various women's issues. Includes discussion questions, a list of suggested reading, and a bibliography.