Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen's treatment of social class in the early nineteenth century

One of the central themes in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is the role of class in early nineteenth-century England. Austen is interested in how social class shapes individual experience as well as the interactions among people of different classes.

Crane, London, and Literary Naturalism

Read one or both of the following stories:

Gwendolyn Brooks’ "We Real Cool"

Read Gwendolyn Brooks' poem "We Real Cool" out loud to yourself a few times. Then watch the video of John Ulrich discussing and reading "We Real Cool" as part of the EDSITEment-reviewed Library of Congress Favorite Poems Project. Pay particular attention to how you read the poem and how the poem is read in the Favorite Poems Project video—what words are emphasized? what kind of rhythm is established?

Stephen Crane’s “The Open Boat”

Instructions:

Read the first section of Stephen Crane’s “The Open Boat,” and then look at the following images. How do they compare to Crane’s description?

Links:

Robert Browning: "My Last Duchess"

Use the following links as you explore Robert Browning's poem, "My Last Duchess."

Faulkner’s The Sound and The Fury Overview

Overview | Chapter 1: Benjy | Chapter 2: Quentin | Chapter 3: Jason | Chapter 4: The “Dilsey Chapter”

Curriculum Unit Overview

The following are important general links to aid your progression through the novel. Use them as necessary to aid your general comprehension so that you can better investigate the themes, symbols, and perspectives presented in the book.

Poetic Form: Robert Hayden and Theodore Roethke

Read Robert Hayden's "Those Winter Sundays," paying close attention to the sounds of the words. What sounds do you notice as you read the poem aloud?

Andrew Marvell: "To His Coy Mistress"

Use the following links as you explore Andrew Marvell's poem, "To His Coy Mistress."