General Literature Resources

100 Best First Lines from Novels
Starting with "Call me Ishamael," this page lists first sentences old and new.

AllReaders.com
You remember the book, but the title and author escape you? Try this search tool, which asks for details, then generates a list of possible matches.

American Comedy Archives
"Primary source material that documents the professional activities of the ground breaking individuals who have written, produced or performed comedy for radio, television, motion pictures or live performance." Includes interviews with Phyllis Diller, Dick Gregory, Don Knotts, Norman Lear, Bob Newhart, Tom Poston, Paul Rodriguez, Dick Van Dyke, Betty White, and Jonathan Winters.

American Journeys
Digital exhibition of "manuscripts, books, and artifacts which trace some of the remarkable journeys that brought us from 1492 to the mid-twentieth-century era of social protest."

Artists for Literacy
An interesting blend of popular music and literacy. Be sure to click on "Famous SIBLs" for a list of songs inspired by literature.

Banned Books at the American Library Association
This site contains a variety of resources about banned books, including ideas for celebrating Banned Books Week.

Behind the Cover: Researching the History and Context of a Written Work
Students consider literary works and research their respective "back stories." They then design posters illustrating their information and display them in the school's library. This lesson uses a reference to Frankenstein but is adaptible to other literary works.

Book-A-Minute Classics, just for fun.
I have to admire a site that can condense Moby-Dick to four lines of dialogue and two stage directions!

The Cambridge History of English and American Literature
All 18 volumes of this valuable resource are available online.

Course Materials for the Study of Science Fiction
Links to a variety of science fiction novels and short stories.

Designing Your Own Internet Book Club
"Students evaluate the effectiveness of Internet book clubs, present their findings to the class, and design their own on-line book club (under the umbrella of a fictional television program) to encourage non-readers to read more."

Developing Web Sites Commemorating Classic Works of Literature and Theater
In this lesson, students create real or mock-up Web sites commemorating works of literature or theater. Students will use the New York Time's article announcing that the Broadway production of "Rent" will soon close as a springboard for their work (article included).

Dictionary of Symbolism
Check here for common meanings of symbols in Western literature.

Electronic Text Center
University of Virginia English Language e-texts, with links to special collections of African-American, Civil War, Native American works, Women Writers, and Young Readers.

ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection
Click on a state to find out about its contribution to American letters. The site actively solicits contributions -- a possible class project?

Free Classic AudioBooks
Download books in MP3 and M4B formats. Includes books that are out of copyright, including The Picture of Dorian Gray, A Christmas Carol, Pride and Prejudice, Huck Finn, and many more.

Folk Music of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and America
Looking for ballads? This is the site for you. Search or browse for lyrics. Hear the song played as you read it.

Graphic Novels
Lesson plans and teaching resources for Maus, Persepolis, more.

Google Lit Trips
Use Google Earth to trace the wanderings of Odysseus, the journey of the Joads, Elie Wiesel's forced departure from his home to Nazi concentration camps, and more. A great resource developed by teachers for teachers. Requires Google Earth, but the free version will do.

Harlem Renaissance WebQuest
Students research the Harlem Renaissance and produce a brochure explaining it to others. Page includes links for research and a rubric.

The Horror! The Horror! Exploring the Conventions of the Horror Genre in Film and Literature
Students identify the conventions of the horror genre and analyze films and texts to uncover these conventions in action. Their work will culminate in a "Festival of Fear," a class celebration of the genre.

Introduction to Modern Literary Theory
A extensive list and thumbnail description of different kinds of literary criticism and critics.

A Glossary of Literary Terms
An alphabetical list of terms with examples.

The Labyrinth
Resources for Medieval Studies.

Literature & Life: The Givens Collection
African-American literature in historical context.

Literature Post
Links to online texts: fiction, nonfiction, plays, poetry, and short stories.