A Modell of Christian Charity by John Winthrop
Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor John Winthrop outlines his ideas for keeping Puritan society spiritually strong in their new land.
Tagged: eil
Satisfaction in God by Cotton Mather
Puritan minister Cotton Mather offers a great deal of wisdom in Satisfaction in God, a surprisingly short sermon.
The Tempest by Charles and Mary Lamb
Charles Lamb and his sister Mary Lamb wrote shorter versions of many classic tales, many of which appear in their work Tales from Shakespeare, some of which are referenced as introductions to the full-length...
A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
This famous satirical essay by Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver’s Travels, was intended to mock harsh attitudes towards the poor and to critique British policies relating to the Irish. It was originally published as...
Citation and Style Guides
Citation and Style Guides Here is a list of the most commonly used citation and style guides and resources. For Excellence in Literature, you will be using MLA citations, but I suggest becoming familiar...
Glossary
Glossary This glossary of literary terms is excerpted from the Excellence in Literature curriculum, and is useful for the study of literature and writing. If there are other terms you would like to see...
Great Expectations 1946 Film
The 1946 British film version of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations has been ranked among the top 100 British films, and has been considered one of the finest adaptations of Dickens’ work. Watch it and notice what’s different from the novel.
Fortunate Misfortunes: An Analysis of Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift
Fortunate Misfortunes: An Analysis of Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift by Janice Campbell (a poetry analysis from my college days).
Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift, D.S.P.D.
Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift, D.S.P.D.
BY JONATHAN SWIFT
The Lake Gun by James Fenimore Cooper
The Lake Gun By James Fenimore Cooper “The Lake Gun” is one of James Fenimore Cooper’s very few short stories, and was written in the last year of his life. It was commissioned by...
Religion in Robinson Crusoe by Lilia Melani
Religion in Robinson Crusoe by Dr. Lilia Melani Religious Considerations For many, perhaps most readers, Crusoe’s many references to God, to Providence, to sin are extraneous to the real interest of the novel and...
Bernard Shaw: a Brief Biography
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) led a long and fascinating literary life. Here is a brief biography by Cary Mazer of the University of Pennsylvania.
Stevenson by G. K. Chesterton
Stevenson (from Twelve Types [a Collection of Biographies]) A brief biography of Robert Louis Stevenson. By G. K. Chesterton A recent incident has finally convinced us that Stevenson was, as we suspected, a great...
The Gold Bug by Edgar Allan Poe
“The Gold-Bug” is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. Hero William Legrand is bitten by a gold bug which leads to an adventure and buried treasure.
G. B. Shaw’s Reception of Don Giovanni
Scholars have long recognized the importance of structural aspects of Mozart’s music on George Bernard Shaw’s dramas. Here is the text of a talk given by Gareth Cox, a leading authority on Shaw.
Jane Eyre’s Three Paintings
Jane Eyre’s Three Paintings: Biblical Warnings & Greek Legends By Peter Bolt, English Department, North East Worchester College [England] Charlotte Brontë’s ability to use her encyclopaedic knowledge of the Bible first appears in her...
The Elegant Essay by Lesha Myers
The Elegant Essay is the essay writing book I recommend for learning to write essays as well as a review and reference for student writers.
In the Year 2889 by Jules Verne
In the Year 2889 By Jules Verne Edited by Blake Linton Editor’s Notes by Blake Linton In 1885, James Gordon Bennett, Jr., owner of the New York Herald (the same man who sent Stanley...
Jules Verne at Home (1894 Interview)
Jules Verne at Home: His Own Account of His Life and Work Reported by R. H. Sherard in McClure’s Magazine, January 1894 Edited to HTML by Zvi Har’El “The great regret of my life is...
The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe
The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe NOTE: If you would like to view a dramatized version of the story, a 1952 video version of “The Purloined Letter” can be found here, courtesy of...
The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry
The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry remains one of the funniest short stories I’ve read. You will study it in Introduction to Literature, Module 1.
The Diamond Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
The Diamond Necklace by Guy de Maupassant, a classic short story with a surprise twist at the end. It is studied in module 1 of Introduction to Literature.
A White Heron by Sarah Orne Jewett
A White Heron A short story by Sarah Orne Jewett. NOTE: If you would like to listen to an audio version of the story, you will find a recording here, courtesy of EIL. I....
CLEP Exams for Excellence in Literature Honors Option
In the Honors Option for Excellence in Literature, students have the option of taking a CLEP (College Level Exam Program) test at the end of the year. There are a number of exams related...
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Andrew Pudewa talks about Excellence in Literature
Andrew Pudewa talks about what makes Excellence in Literature different from other high school literary analysis courses.
What’s In Each Module?
Each unit contains three main sections: Introductory information, context material, and the week-by-week lesson plan.
