"The course of true love never did run smooth," wrote William Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night's Dream—and he knew what he was talking about. A text from this study guide collection might be just the thing to remind you of the bliss and pain of love.
Publication year 1849
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Community
Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, Education, Education, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, American Literature, Gothic Literature, Romance, Classic Fiction
The last poem Edgar Allan Poe—infamous poet and fiction author of the macabre—completed during his tumultuous life, “Annabel Lee,” was first published in the New York Tribune in 1849, two days after Poe’s death. Displaying the melodic lyricism, gothic overtones, and memorable imagery which informed so much of Poe’s work, “Annabel Lee” is considered one of the defining entries in his canon, and a classic of 19th century American poetry.The poem concerns the death of... Read Annabel Lee Summary
Publication year 1879
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Class
Tags Classic Fiction, Russian Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance
Anna Karenina is Leo Tolstoy’s second novel, following War and Peace (1869). Serially published in 1877, Anna Karenina depicts the efforts of its titular character to escape an unhappy marriage to her older, civil servant husband and pursue a love affair with a young and dashing count, Alexei Vronsky. The novel is a sweeping family drama exploring Tolstoy’s interest in marriage, family, agrarian politics, and gender roles. The work is also a portrait of Russian... Read Anna Karenina Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Society: Class
Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, Regency Era
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Romance
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Romance
Publication year 1607
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Classic Fiction, Play: Tragedy, Play: Historical, Romance, Education, Education, Drama / Tragedy, Historical Fiction
Book DetailsAntony and Cleopatra is a play by William Shakespeare that was first performed in 1607. The plot centers around the romantic affair between a Roman general, Mark Antony, and the Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. It is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, portraying the downfall of Mark Antony and Cleopatra and their eventual deaths due to a conflict with Octavius Caesar, the future Emperor Augustus. Shakespeare had previously written the tragedy Julius Caesar in... Read Antony and Cleopatra Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Sexuality, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Romance, New Adult
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Humor
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Romance, Disability, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1903
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Classic Fiction, American Literature
“A Retrieved Reformation,” by prolific American short story writer O. Henry, was first published as “A Retrieved Reform” in The Cosmopolitan in 1903. The story is an example of Realism, a literary movement popular in the US and Europe in the years between the end of the American Civil War and the early 20th century. Realism explores the everyday lives of ordinary people, using detailed descriptions and colloquial dialogue. Events in “A Retrieved Reformation” are... Read A Retrieved Reformation Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Fantasy, Mythology, Historical Fiction, Romance, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Race
Tags Romance, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Music
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Publication year 1908
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Femininity, Self Discovery, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags British Literature, Italian Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Satire, Edwardian Era
A Room with a View is a 1908 historical fiction/romance novel by British author E. M. Forster. The novel is split between Italy and England, telling the story of Lucy Honeychurch, a young and spirited middle-class Englishwoman who embarks on a journey of self-discovery during a trip to Italy. During her travels, Lucy falls in love with the free-spirited and unconventional George Emerson, a fellow tourist, but is later forced to choose between her heart's... Read A Room with a View Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Gender, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Flora/plants, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Romance, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Humor
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 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Self Discovery
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery
Tags Fantasy, Romance, New Adult, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Religion / Spirituality