Calling The Color Purple a Womanist work is like characterizing The Iliad as just another epic poem. It isn't merely an example of the genre in question, it's the defining text. To learn about Womanism, what The Color Purple has to do with it, and why it was banned - click on the post's title.
Silent reading might be the norm, but reading aloud has cognitive benefits. So, what's the best form of literature for celebrating World Read Aloud day? Short stories. Here's a couple from Edgar Allan Poe... he's the one who said "There is a distinct limit, as regards length, to all works of literary art -- the limit of a single sitting. To learn about the benefits of reading aloud, and put what you've learned into practice with a couple of Poe's short stories - click on the post's title.
For our 2024 celebration we're shining a spotlight on Phillis Wheatley (the first African-American to publish a book of poetry) and William Wells Brown (who wrote the first novel by an African-American). To find out more about the origins of Black History Month, these history-making individuals, and their ground-breaking works - click on the post's title.
This piece from guest essayist Allen Schwab reflects thoughts and memories evoked by our previous post "I Took the Road Less Traveled By." Schwab considers parallel themes in Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken," and Henry James' short story "The Jolly Corner," topped off with a dash of Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar." What can these works possibly have in common, you may ask. To find out- click on the post's title.
The closing lines from Robert Frost's poem are typically seen as an anthem of independence. These words have been borrowed for everything from high-school commencement speeches to product advertisements, and more. But Frost's poem isn't actually a paean of bold self-assertion and uniqueness. What is he talking about, then? To find out - click on the post's title.
Like symbolic language, literary devices are techniques authors use to guide the reader in how to read a book for more than simple plot. To take a look at some of them - click on the post's title.
Families have a lot to gain from reading together. And that doesn’t just apply to toddlers and kindergartners. Reading aloud with our tweens and teens addresses a number of the issues that lead to the poor reading scores we see beyond the eighth grade. To discover how reading aloud boosts reading achievement - click on the post's title.
Arthur Miller’s account of why he wrote The Crucible also touches on how it is written, outlining the multi-layered nature of the work. Dig into it here - click on the post's title.
The 2023 LOC National Book Festival takes place on August 12 in Washington, D.C. If you can't make it in person, be sure to check out the online options.
Why study literature? Why read fiction? Why spend one’s life teaching it? What’s the point? Because literature has something significant to impart. Gain some insight here - click on the post's title.
Albert Einstein is literally the face of the STEM education society is so pre-occupied with these days. A lot of us would be shocked to discover that he championed a liberal arts education. Find out why - click on the post's title.
People have been telling stories since the dawn of time. But, storytelling has never been just about entertainment. Why are books written, then, if not for readers’ gratification? Have a gander here to find out - click on the post's title.