Tag Archives: literary motifs
What Makes a Good Children’s Book?
What makes a good children’s book? I’d suppose that’s a tough question to answer, otherwise Microsoft would have already written Newbery Notebook 1.0 and Caldecott Creator for Windows. A good children’s book is far from formulaic. It seems, however, that … Continue reading
Doom, Despair, and Agony on Me
“Doom, despair, and agony on me” were the cheery words that accompanied an old HeeHaw sketch in which two old coots in a corn field tried to outdo each other with their tales of woe. Funny in its hyperbole. But in a recent … Continue reading
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60 Second Recap
If you haven’t checked out 60 Second Recap, you’re in for a treat. 60 Second Recap is a collection of video clips covering the plots, characters, symbolism, and more of favorite classic literature for teens. But it’s not a dry, overly-academic examination. It’s … Continue reading
Filed under Recommended Resources, Recommended Sites
Don’t Know Much About Literature
This review of the upcoming Don’t Know Much About Literature by Kenneth C. Davis and Jenny Davis (Summer 2009, Harper Collins) is somewhat biased. First of all, I was a huge fan of Kenneth C. Davis’ Don’t Know Much About History. … Continue reading
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The Hero Myth
One topic which I casually mention in my How to Teach a Novel workshop that stirs a lot of interest is the Hero Myth as described in Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces. According to Campbell’s introduction, A … Continue reading
Filed under Recommended Resources, Teaching Topics
