Civil Disobedience

May 1, 2010
Gr 10 Up-The 20 essays in these compilations explore classical works of literaturenovels, plays, short stories, letters, or speecheswith a common thematic thread. Sources analyzed in "Civil Disobedience" include excerpts from George Orwell's "1984", Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener," Arthur Miller's "The Crucible", and speeches by Malcolm X. Excerpts in "Enslavement and Emancipation" discuss Toni Morrison's "Beloved", the Declaration of Independence, various slave narratives, and some of Elie Wiesel's novels. Both titles address Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and the poetry of Langston Hughes, modeling for readers how to approach literature from different theoretical and thematic perspectives. Entries include seminal analyses from scholarly journals and books, as well as pieces written for these volumes. The latter are far more accessible for readers new to literary criticism. Fortunately, the other essays open with helpful introductions that outline the authors' arguments, central questions, and point of view. A handful of entries include section headings to guide readers through dense critical material. Background knowledge is needed to comprehend Bloom's series introduction and his take on the "perpetually crucial" topics covered in the books. Extensive bibliographies are a goldmine for further research, and some essays introduce the critical volleys between literary scholars. Solid selections for Advanced Placement curricula."Amy Pickett, Ridley High School, Folsom, PA"

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