Aging

"Nature abhors the old," said Ralph Waldo Emerson, and yet poet John Donne wrote, "No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace / As I have seen in one Autumnal face." So, is aging a gift—or a curse? In this thematic collection, we present texts that reflect on this question.

Fences

by August Wilson

Publication year 1986

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Fathers, Aging

Tags American Literature, Race & Racism, Education, Education, Dramatic Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

August Wilson’s play Fences premiered in 1985 at the Yale Repertory Theatre and was published the following year. It opened on Broadway in 1987 with James Earl Jones in the role of Troy. It was the third play to premiere of Wilson’s Century Cycle, although it is the sixth play chronologically. The Century Cycle, also known as the Pittsburgh Cycle, consists of 10 plays, one set in each decade of the 20th century. Each play... Read Fences Summary

Four Quartets

by T. S. Eliot

Publication year 1941

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Fate, Death, Aging, Conflict

Tags Lyric Poem, The Lost Generation

Four Quartets is a collection of four poems by T.S. Eliot. The four pieces were originally published between 1934 and 1942, during a period of time in which Eliot’s life was disrupted by the events of World War II. They were then collected into a single volume in 1943. The poems are linked loosely by theme; all of them are about the relationship between people and the divine. At the time of its publication, several of... Read Four Quartets Summary

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

by Fannie Flagg

Publication year 1987

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Aging, Love, Memory

Tags Romance, Southern Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Humor, Classic Fiction

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is a 1987 novel by American author and actress Fanny Flagg, who also wrote an award-winning screen adaption of the book. The narrative contains two interconnected stories that unfold several decades apart. The frame narrative, which takes place in Birmingham, Alabama between December 1985 and December 1986, depicts the developing friendship between a middle-aged housewife named Evelyn Couch and an elderly widow named Ninny Threadgoode. As the... Read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Summary

Ghost Story

by Peter Straub

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Memory, Regret, Shame & Pride, Revenge, Aging, Death, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Music, Art, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Femininity, Sexual Identity, Friendship, Marriage, Mothers, Siblings, Teamwork, Order & Chaos, Justice, Equality

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Religion & Spirituality

... Read Ghost Story Summary

Great and Precious Things

by Rebecca Yarros

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Death, Conflict, Grief, Guilt, Love, Memory, Disability, Mental Health, Aging, The Past, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Fate, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Military & War, Contemporary Literature, Dramatic Literature

... Read Great and Precious Things Summary

Have a Little Faith: A True Story

by Mitch Albom

Publication year 2009

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Community, Hope, Aging, Death

Tags Religion & Spirituality, Inspirational, Biography

Have a Little Faith: A True Story is a 2009 nonfiction book by American journalist and author Mitch Albom. The book can be classified as an inspirational memoir, as it centers on the author’s interactions with two faith leaders, one Jewish and one Christian, over an eight-year period. In 2011, Have a Little Faith was adapted into a made-for-television film starring Laurence Fishburne, Martin Landau, and Bradley Whitford. This study guide refers to the 2009... Read Have a Little Faith: A True Story Summary

Heartbeat

by Sharon Creech

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Aging, Death, Teamwork, Siblings, Friendship, Coming of Age, Art, Birth, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Mothers, Family

Tags Relationships, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Heartbeat Summary

Here

by Richard McGuire

Publication year 2014

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Art, Place, Memory, Environment, Grief, Joy, Loneliness, Love, Indigenous Identity, Aging, Childhood & Youth, Death, Future, The Past, Climate, Objects & Materials, Space, Family, Mothers, Beauty

Tags Historical Fiction, Dramatic Literature, World History, Arts & Culture

Here by Richard McGuire is a graphic novel published on December 4, 2014, by Pantheon Books. The graphic novel focuses on the same corner of a room over billions of years. It depicts the area long before the house is built and long after it falls. By using different visual styles, overlapping panels, and non-chronological narration, McGuire creates a narrative that comments on the nature of time and life. Here is considered a transformative work... Read Here Summary

Hour of the Bees

by Lindsay Eagar

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Aging, Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Place, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Grandparents, Self Discovery, Community, Fate, Truth & Lies

Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Published in 2016, Hour of the Bees is a young adult magical realism novel by Lindsay Eagar. Set in contemporary New Mexico, the story follows 12-year-old Carol as she spends the summer on her grandfather’s sheep ranch, helping her family prepare it for sale and helping care for her grandfather, who has dementia. However, her grandfather’s stories of the land’s magic and history cause her to fall in love with it. Hour of the Bees... Read Hour of the Bees Summary

How to Menopause

by Tamsen Fadal

Publication year 2025

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Gratitude, Hope, Joy, Femininity, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, Aging, Friendship, Self Discovery, Community, Equality

... Read How to Menopause Summary