Our Required Reading Lists Collection features poems, fiction, short stories, and other texts frequently studied in academic contexts. With texts spanning from the ancients, such as Plato, through contemporary literary giants, this well-rounded Collection represents the breadth and enduring appeal of literature and its study.
Publication year 1922
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Classic Fiction, American Literature, Relationships, Education, Education, History: World, Romance
“Winter Dreams” (1922) is one of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Gatsby cluster stories,” which informed the creation of his renowned novel The Great Gatsby. Like The Great Gatsby, “Winter Dreams” features the themes of love and longing, the futility of the American dream, illusion and disillusionment, and the fleetingness of time.This study guide references Collected Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald (45 Short Stories and Novels), released in 2013 by ESCBO Publishing.“Winter Dreams” begins in Minnesota when... Read Winter Dreams Summary
Publication year 1920
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity
Tags Romance, Classic Fiction, Relationships, British Literature, History: World
IntroductionWomen in Love by D. H. Lawrence was written from 1913-1917 and published in America in 1920, though it wasn’t published in Britain until 1921. The novel’s publishing was delayed due to its prequel, The Rainbow, being banned. The Rainbow and Women in Love were originally intended to be two parts of one novel, but the publisher ultimately decided to publish them separately. Both novels feature conversations about sexuality that were considered explicit in their... Read Women In Love Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
You is a 2014 thriller novel written by New York Times bestselling author Caroline Kepnes. The story is narrated by Joe Goldberg, a bookstore employee who develops an obsession with an aspiring writer named Beck. The title, You, alludes to the narrator’s obsession; the entire narrative is addressed to Beck in the second person. The novel and its sequels were adapted into a television series of the same name. This guide uses the 2014 Atria... Read You Summary
Publication year 1835
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: Community
Tags Classic Fiction, Allegory / Fable / Parable, American Literature, Education, Education, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Gothic Literature, Historical Fiction
“Young Goodman Brown” is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne published in 1835 in The New-England Magazine. The story was later included in Hawthorne’s 1846 collection Mosses from an Old Manse. Most of Hawthorne’s fiction is set in New England and focuses on themes of morality, inherent sin of human beings, and anti-Puritan sentiment. In addition to “Young Goodman Brown,” some of his most famous short fiction works include “The Minister’s Black Veil” (1836)... Read Young Goodman Brown Summary