Rachel Baack
- William Shakespeare
- Ann Thompson
- David Scott Kastan
- H.R. Woudhuysen
- Richard Proudfoot
- A.R. Braunmuller
- Robert N. Watson
Summary: A cunning duke pretends to leave town and leaves the highly moralistic Angelo in charge. The duke then spies on the town’s goings-on disguised as a friar and discovers some shocking abuses of power by Angelo.
The play offers insight into the age-old question of what the proper balance between justice and mercy is.
Summary: A cunning duke pretends to leave town and leaves the highly moralistic Angelo in charge. The duke then spies on the town’s goings-on disguised as a friar and discovers some shocking abuses of power by Angelo.
The play offers insight into the age-old question of what the proper balance between justice and mercy is.
Added to listDefies Categorizationwith 11 books.
Summary: This tragedy tells the story of a man who uses violent means to overtake the throne of the kingdom of Scotland, but who learns that no one can escape fate.
This play includes themes of the dangers of confidence in one’s security and the inescapability of guilt and fate.
Summary: This tragedy tells the story of a man who uses violent means to overtake the throne of the kingdom of Scotland, but who learns that no one can escape fate.
This play includes themes of the dangers of confidence in one’s security and the inescapability of guilt and fate.
Summary: This history play gives a fictionalized account of the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar and the aftermath of the event.
It features some of literature’s best examples of effective uses of rhetoric.
Summary: This history play gives a fictionalized account of the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar and the aftermath of the event.
It features some of literature’s best examples of effective uses of rhetoric.
Summary: This is a continuation of the story that began in Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2. This play picks up after Henry V (a.k.a. “Harry”) has become king. He has made a claim to the rule of France and, as a result started a war with the country.
The play raises questions about the proper placement of blame/responsibility.
Summary: This is a continuation of the story that began in Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2. This play picks up after Henry V (a.k.a. “Harry”) has become king. He has made a claim to the rule of France and, as a result started a war with the country.
The play raises questions about the proper placement of blame/responsibility.
Added to listHistorical Fictionwith 24 books.
Summary: In this play, King Henry is caught up in a conflict with several rebel groups who have formed an alliance against him. Meanwhile, his son, who is nicknamed Harry, is busy spending time with men of poor reputation. The play focuses on the son’s interactions with these “lowlifes” and criminals as well as with his father.
Summary: In this play, King Henry is caught up in a conflict with several rebel groups who have formed an alliance against him. Meanwhile, his son, who is nicknamed Harry, is busy spending time with men of poor reputation. The play focuses on the son’s interactions with these “lowlifes” and criminals as well as with his father.
Summary: This play tells the story of four romances that are blossoming amidst a time of political turmoil. The story features the usurping of a duke by younger brother, a wrestling match with a surprising, a couple of cases of concealed identities, and, as is common in Shakespearean comedies, a fool who offers some irreverent comic relief.
Summary: This play tells the story of four romances that are blossoming amidst a time of political turmoil. The story features the usurping of a duke by younger brother, a wrestling match with a surprising, a couple of cases of concealed identities, and, as is common in Shakespearean comedies, a fool who offers some irreverent comic relief.
Added to listMiddle Gradewith 28 books.
Added to listRealistic Fictionwith 94 books.
Added to listPhilosophical & Existential Fictionwith 13 books.
Added to listDramas/Playswith 19 books.
Added to listClassicswith 103 books.
Summary: In this seventeenth-century play, Alceste gets into trouble when he refuses to engage in dishonest flattery and instead insists upon brutal honesty. Despite this rejection of the flattery that is part of his society’s norms, he harbors romantic feelings for the frivolous Célimène. This play chronicles the comedic interactions between Alceste and the other characters and raises questions about the value and place of societal norms and of honesty.
Summary: In this seventeenth-century play, Alceste gets into trouble when he refuses to engage in dishonest flattery and instead insists upon brutal honesty. Despite this rejection of the flattery that is part of his society’s norms, he harbors romantic feelings for the frivolous Célimène. This play chronicles the comedic interactions between Alceste and the other characters and raises questions about the value and place of societal norms and of honesty.
Summary: In this play by Oscar Wilde, Jack is living two lives: he is known by his real name, Jack, to his friends in his more permanent country home, but his friends (and his love interest) in London know him as Earnest. Jack’s double-identity create some ridiculous and hilarious situations in this comedy of manners.
Summary: In this play by Oscar Wilde, Jack is living two lives: he is known by his real name, Jack, to his friends in his more permanent country home, but his friends (and his love interest) in London know him as Earnest. Jack’s double-identity create some ridiculous and hilarious situations in this comedy of manners.
Added to listDramas/Playswith 2 books.
Summary: This work is a play written in 441 BC by Sophocles, a great playwright of his time. The work has been translated into English, but it is not nearly as hard to understand as one might think. Although it is an old work, it deals with some very relevant themes and raises philosophical questions that people have been asking for ages about the proper use of power, compromise, gender roles, and more. The play is the third work in a trilogy, and it follows the story of a young woman who defies the king (her uncle) to do what she believes is right and honor her deceased brother.
Summary: This work is a play written in 441 BC by Sophocles, a great playwright of his time. The work has been translated into English, but it is not nearly as hard to understand as one might think. Although it is an old work, it deals with some very relevant themes and raises philosophical questions that people have been asking for ages about the proper use of power, compromise, gender roles, and more. The play is the third work in a trilogy, and it follows the story of a young woman who defies the king (her uncle) to do what she believes is right and honor her deceased brother.
The Prelude
Summary: Wordsworth recounts several episodes from his life and intersperses them with his thoughts about life and nature.
Summary: Wordsworth recounts several episodes from his life and intersperses them with his thoughts about life and nature.
Summary: Rich with imagery, this long poem describes several vignettes and also explores the idea of the self as supreme.
Summary: Rich with imagery, this long poem describes several vignettes and also explores the idea of the self as supreme.
Added to listClassicswith 70 books.
Summary: This poem is told through the eyes of a war veteran. He tells of his experiences caring for the wounded.
Summary: This poem is told through the eyes of a war veteran. He tells of his experiences caring for the wounded.
The Prelude
Added to listPoetrywith 22 books.
Summary: This poem imagines a world post-humanity and claims that the rest of nature would not be bothered by humankind’s disappearance from the face of the Earth.
Summary: This poem imagines a world post-humanity and claims that the rest of nature would not be bothered by humankind’s disappearance from the face of the Earth.