University of Pennsylvania
"Black Boys and Native Sons" Literary Criticism
This critical essay first appeared in DISSENT in 1963. It looks at the work of Richard Wright, James Baldwin, and Ralph Ellison.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: How to Read and Analyze an Essay (English Iii Reading)
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson's activities, you will determine the purpose of description, narration, and exposition essays, analyze their literary devices, and examine text features. You...
Lumen Learning
Lumen: American Literature: Reader Response Criticism
This lesson focuses on reader-response literary criticism including the purpose of reader response, the structure of a reader-response essay, how to criticize with examples, and an example of a reader-response essay using "The Secret...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Literary Visions
Twenty-six half hour videos on literary analysis for high school students that feature authors, scholars, actors and noted critics. Topics include The Art of the Essay, Setting and Character in Short Fiction, Responding to Literature and...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry:gwendolyn Bennett
This page offers a biography of Gwendolyn Bennet, as well as critical essays on some poems. Includes a picture.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Analyze Literary Essays' Inclusion of Personal Opinions and Facts
In this lesson, you will learn how to identify and discuss the use of facts, personal examples, and ideas and how they are woven into a literary essay.
Luminarium
Luminarium: Passion vs. Rationalism in "Paradise Lost"
Critical essay examining Milton's views on emotion and intellect. Features short excerpts and comparisons to Pope and Voltaire.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass and American Non Fiction
This lesson plan serves as an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing and focuses primarily on teaching some basic approaches to recognizing rhetorical strategies adopted for persuasive effect in essays and non-fiction. The...
Pennsylvania State University
Alexander Pope's "Essay on Criticism" [Pdf]
Pope's entire "Essay on Criticism" is available at this site in .pdf format.
Virginia Tech
Some Observations About Hawthorne's Women
A somewhat Freudian look at Hawthorne's characters, this critical essay includes source references.
Absolute Shakespeare
Absolute Shakespeare: "Julius Caesar" Character Analysis
William Hazlitt's critical essay on the characters in "Julius Caesar" is presented here, including lengthy quotations from the text of the play.
Lumen Learning
Lumen: Introduction to Writing About Literature
This is an introduction to writing about literature; it includes a list of learning objectives for writing about literature including finding and using historical sources to discuss the historical context, finding and using literary...
Other
Emily Dickinson: Early Feminist Essays (Pub. 1886 1915)
This is an eclectic mix of Dickinson's letters, some early essays about her writing, and remembrances of her by friends and family. The texts of 32 of her poems are annotated with references to other Dickinson writings. The entire site...
Other
Essays and Reviews: Mourning for Hokujurosen: Poem by Yosa Buson
This poem is followed by a brief commentary. The writer explains images in the poem, and some of Buson's philosophical beliefs which affected the poem.
Rutgers University
Rutgers University: Glossary of Literary and Rhetorical Terms: Heroic Couplets
A short definition of the term Heroic Couplet along with a short example from a piece of poetry from Pope's Essay on Criticism.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Emily Dickinson (1830 1886)
A collection of critical reviews of 16 of Emily Dickinson's poems. Most poems are analyzed by multiple critics. In addition, there are two biographical sketches, and essays examining her use of the dash and her lack of titles.
Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore
Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore
The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore has created one of the more thorough websites on Poe. It presents many essays on his life and various aspects of his works, as well as the texts of most of Poe's writings, including his poetry,...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Mona Van Duyn
In addition to biographical notes about Van Duyn, this site has four essays about her poetry, one by Van Duyn.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Robert Pinsky
A collection of interviews with Robert Pinsky, articles and speeches by him, and essays about his work.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Charles Reznikoff Modern American Poetry Links
This site provides links to information regarding Charles Reznikoff (1894-1976 CE). Information linked includes biographical essays and interviews with the poet.
Rutgers University
Rutgers University: Use, Elegance, and National Identity in Johnson's Dictionary
An analytical discussion of Johnson's use of literary technique in his dictionary. It includes notes and bibliography.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Personal or Social Tragedy? Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome
This lesson plan will challenge students to weigh the textual evidence for and against the claim that Ethan's woes lay in staying in Starkfield-and not in the details of his personal relationships. In the process, students will close...
Other
On "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Acclaimed literary critic Dana Gioia analyzes Longfellow's classic narrative poem, "Paul Revere's Ride," encouraging readers to see beyond the story into the rationale for the structure and style of the poem.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American poetry:(h.d.)hilda Doolittle (1886 1961)
The Modern American Poetry site features an essay about H. D.?s (1886-1961 CE) life and career, selected criticism, and links to related sites.