From Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita to Raven Leilani's Luster, the texts in this collection investigate themes related to the power and promise of many types of art — from the written word to visual arts such as painting and cinema.
Publication year 1991
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Ancient Rome, Lyric Poem
Publication year 1968
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Arts / Culture, Ancient Greece
Publication year 1934
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Arts / Culture, Philosophy
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags LGBTQ, Romance, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Asian Literature, Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture, History: Asian, Poverty, American Literature, Education, Education, History: World
A Single Shard (2001) is an award-winning, middle-grade historical novel by Korean American author Linda Sue Park. Park has written multiple children’s books, picture books, and volumes of poetry. Some of her better-known titles include A Long Walk to Water (2010), The Thirty-Nine Clues series in nine volumes (2010), and Prairie Lotus (2020). Much of her historical fiction is based on Korean history.A Single Shard is intended for readers in grades 5 to 7, though... Read A Single Shard Summary
Publication year 1927
Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Language
Tags The Bloomsbury Group, Arts / Culture, Literary Criticism, Classic Fiction
Aspects of the Novel by E.M. Forster is considered a seminal work of literary criticism that demystifies the form of the novel as it was understood in the early 20th century. The book is adapted from a series of informal lectures Forster delivered in 1927 at Trinity College at the University of Cambridge. Forster was an accomplished novelist as well as a critic, known for the novels Howard’s End and Passage to India, among others... Read Aspects of the Novel Summary
Publication year 1997
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Humor, Philosophy, Post Modernism, American Literature
A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again is a 1997 essay collection by David Foster Wallace. The seven essays explore 1990s US social issues through subjects such as television, tennis, and (in the most famous essay) a Caribbean cruise. The essays have been referenced many times in popular culture, particularly the title essay, which recounts Wallace’s experiences on a cruise.This guide references the 1998 Abacus edition of the collection.SummaryIn the first essay, “Derivative Sport... Read A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Language, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Education
Tags Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture, Education, Russian Literature, Literary Criticism, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 1983
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Prose poetry, Post Modernism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Gender / Feminism, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Psychological Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Literary Fiction, Asian Literature
Publication year 1925
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Philosophy, Irish Literature
Publication year 2015
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Teams, Society: Education, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Regret
Tags Realistic Fiction, Science / Nature, Education, Children's Literature, Bullying, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1958
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Food, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Historical Fiction, Relationships, Scandinavian Literature, Food, History: World, Classic Fiction
“Babette’s Feast” (1958) is one of the best-known short stories by Danish author Karen Blixen. It was included in her 1958 anthology of short stories, Anecdotes of Destiny, which was published under her pseudonym, Isak Dinesen. Blixen is best known for her literary explorations of spiritual themes and the contradictions of human nature. Both “Babette’s Feast” and Blixen’s memoir Out of Africa (1937) were adapted into Academy Award–winning films.“Babette’s Feast” focuses on themes of physical... Read Babette's Feast Summary
Publication year 1936
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Future, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Education, Society: Class
Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, British Literature
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, Education, Education, Asian Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Chinese Literature
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2000) is a short, semi-autobiographical novel by Dai Sijie. The narrative is set during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and follows two teenage boys who are sent to a remote mountain village for re-education. The boys become close with the local tailor’s daughter and uncover a hidden stash of forbidden Western literature. The books introduce them to ideas, emotions, and freedoms they have never known, and awaken in the Little... Read Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags New Adult, Romance
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Gender
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Before the Fall (2016) by Noah Hawley details the effects of a plane crash on its survivors. Part mystery, part procedural, and part character study, the narrative examines the lives of the victims—their relationships, their flaws, and their histories—giving the tragedy a human face beyond the sensational headlines. Along the way, it explores themes of celebrity, invasion of privacy, and the difficulty of reconstructing traumatic memories. Hawley, a screenwriter as well as a novelist, is... Read Before the Fall Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Philosophy, Politics / Government, Science / Nature, Religion / Spirituality, Leadership/Organization/Management
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World, Arts / Culture