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Author: Homer
Homer wanted to provide values and virtues to Greek culture and originally a story told through word of mouth
Type of work: Epic poetry, Greek
Literary time period/philosophy: Greek literary work; the Bronze Age
Connection to other works: Both the Odyssey and Oedipus Rex are similar in how they are both Greek literary works
Contribution to literature: Homer’s works provided models in persuasive speaking and writing and had a large influence on Western culture. -
Author: Sophocles
Literary time period / philosophy: 5th century BCE, the golden age of ancient Greece
Contribution: Sophocles write this work as a way to prove that it is wrong to disobey the gods and to go against their will. -
Author: unknown
Date: 8th-11th century
Author: passed down by oral tradition Literary time period philosophy: Anglo-Saxon ideologies, oral tradition, epic poetry, Old English
Contribution to literature: Reflects oral tradition and shift of this practice to written literature. Depicts values of Anglo Saxon people, specifically through kingdoms, practices, and warriors’ codes. Often referred to as the first important work of English literature. Contextualizes historical culture and heroic themes. -
Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
Literary time period/philosophy: satirical, medieval time period, observations of religion and human nature.
Contribution to literature: highly detailed depiction of societal classes of 14th century England and human nature that connects to today’s world. Provides insight of what life was like where there were few remaining historical records, allowing people to see into the past and track the evolution of human emotions and attitude (which have not changed). -
Author: Thomas Moore
Literary period: utopian fiction and socio-political satire, written to put analytic light on 16th century England.
Contribution: Described an idealized society, reflection of the environment Moore lived in.
Connection: In Flatland discussed societal ideals. Both appear one way, but have significant meaning behind them regarding social status. Where Flatland creates a world of societal difference, Utopia describes a world in which everyone is the same. -
Author: William Shakespeare
Play based on a true story
Literary period: Elizabethan, set in Renaissance Italy
Connection: The play connects to the novel 1984 because except for love of Big Brother, no other love can exist. Winston and Julia rebel against the wishes of the Party. West Side Story is another work which connects to the play in that it’s a modern day Romeo and Juliet.
Contribution: One significant contribution is that he introduced many new words to the English language. -
Author: William Shakespeare
Literary time period / philosophy: Shakespearean, commentary on rulers without directly referencing time period (1500s England)
Contribution to literature: Portrays Julius Caesar’s life. Shows effects of political corruption and provides commentary on monarchies through Caesar’s assassination. Display of fate vs free will. Connection to A Man for All Seasons, which involves the rule of King Henry VII. -
Author: William Shakespeare
Literary time period / philosophy: written a couple years before the Elizabethan era had ended but performed in the Jacobean era
Contribution: Shakespeare wrote this work as a way to argue against the political and racial issues between Europeans and non-Europeans during the seventeenth century. -
Author: William Shakespeare
Literary period: commentary on rulers (James I), Shakespearean, 1600s England
Connection: Commentary on political ambition and corruption. Written by Shakespeare, Julius Caesar and Macbeth reference the political and social environments of writers. Diction changes as class of audience changes depending on the education of targeted audience and characters. Similar elements with speeches used. Corruption visible through Lady Macbeth's fall and Brutus’ death. -
John Milton
Literary time period / philosophy: An epic poem in blank verse, employs elements of religion and discusses beliefs of time period, 17th century England
Contribution to literature: Paradise Lost was a source of inspiration for many romantic poets, such as Percy Shelley and William Blake. The work alludes to the biblical story of the Fall of Man. -
Author: Jonathan Edwards
Literary time period/ philosophy: 1700s, highly religious time, sermon pointing to God, views on morals, Protestant religious revival
Contribution: Jonathan Edwards wrote this work as a way to preach his beliefs about hell being a dangerous place and the dangers of being a sinner. -
Author: Jane Austen
Literary time period/ philosophy: romantic comedy, Victorian England. Classicism and romanticism culture
Contribution: She wrote the work because she wanted to discuss why it is dangerous to have too much emotion. The novel illustrates how people can be overly sentimental or cold and logical as seen in the characters Marianne and Elinor. -
Author: Mary Shelley
Literary time period / philosophy: Gothic, horror, Romantic, (elements of science fiction when the concept was newer, observation of how man makes monsters), 8th century at the end of enlightenment.
Contribution to literature: The novel had a major impact as it examines the morality and ethics of scientific experiments, as well as the person conducting them. Her work inspired a contribution to gothic literature. -
Author: Edgar Allan Poe
The Raven- 1845
The Fall of the House of Usher- 1839
The Cask of Amontillado- 1846
The Black Cat- 1843
The Tell-tale Heart- 1843
The Pit and the Pendulum- 1842
Annabel Lee- 1849
Literary period: Gothic, Romanticism, Horror, Science fiction
Contribution: Poe wrote the stories as a way to reflect the hardships in his life. (he lost his wife to tuberculosis as well as other obstacles) -
Author: Charlotte Brontë
Literary time period / philosophy: Gothic, Romanticism, written during the Victorian era (the world of mid-1800s Britain)
Contribution to literature: The novel changed the people’s perception of women and considered it a very impactful story. -
Author: Emily Brontë
Literary time period / philosophy: Romantic, Victorian, elements of Gothic literature
Contribution: Emily Brontë wrote the novel because she wanted to delve into human emotions such as anger, regret, passion, and revenge and how they affect us. -
Author: Charles Dickens
Literary time period/ philosophy: Victorian England, Bildungsroman, Dickens pointed out problems with class the system (he makes Joe, a poor man, one of the richest in spirit)
Contribution: The novel explored themes of innocence and guilt, defines life during the Victorian era, and shares the notion that affection and loyalty are higher values than wealth or status. -
Author: Edwin Abbott Abbott
Literary time period: combats societal standards, Victorian fantasy, satire to comment on society
Contribution: influence on society, satirical and social commentary, especially concerning the class system of Victorian England. Connects to Great Expectations in that both novels address societal issues and the ways in which certain individuals were treated based on where they fell (for example, Joe and a square are part of the lower end of society). -
Author: Joseph Conrad
Literary time period / philosophy: (elements and references to Gothic literature), early modernism, modern
Contribution to literature: The novel plays an important role in exploring the issues surrounding imperialism and colonization in a complicated manner. Use of evocative imagery regarding the colors black and white, where white actually represents corruption and abuse of power. Societal commentary. -
Author: Willa Cather
Literary time period / philosophy: between WWI and WWI, modernism, elements of romanticism
Contribution to literature: The novel itself contains many elements of modernism and was praised for its ability in bringing the American West to life with a fascinating story. The lives and concerns of average Nebraskans also reflect the people Willa Cather grew up around. Thus provides a glimpse into the lives of settlers of the American West. -
Author: Hermann Hesse
Literary time period / philosophy: fiction classic novel, story about quest for enlightenment, spiritual affiliations
Connection: The novel connects to The Great Gatsby and The Crucible because a tragic hero was established in the story.
Contribution: Hermann wrote Siddhartha because it is supposed to help expand Europe’s view of religion. It was also based on his beliefs on Buddhism at the time. -
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Literary time period / philosophy: elements of modernism, 1920s (a time of spending and luxuries, also during prohibition of alcohol, Jazz age)
Contribution to literature: F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby as a way to mirror his life during that time and to illustrate the lives of those in his generation. -
Author: John Steinbeck
Literary time period / philosophy: The work belongs to the social realism genre and emphasizes the isolation of migrant farm workers during the Great Depression.
Great Depression, social realism, modern classic
Connection: The work connects to the novel My Antonia, in that, both works narrate the lives of the characters in their story.
Contribution: The book was created based on his childhood observations of poor migrant workers who worked hard in order to make a living. -
Author: George Orwell
Literary time period/ philosophy: 1940s, focus on individualism and rationality, consequences of censorship, modernism
Contribution: George Orwell wrote this novel to serve as a warning for those that read it to never allow for the future depicted in the novel to become a reality. -
Author: John Steinbeck
Literary time period/philosophy: A fundamental idea present is how evil appears as an inescapable human problem that is innate in human nature.
Connection: It connects with the novel My Antonia because both novels narrate the lives of their characters.
Contribution: The novel contributes many biblical allusions and shows the idea that individuals have the freedom to overcome evil with free choice. -
Author: Arthur Miller
Literary time period / philosophy: examination of contemporary events in American politics (McCarthyism), historical drama
Contribution to literature: The work plays an important role in American literature as it comments on how both Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism breeds paranoia due to mass hysteria and hasty imprisonments. -
Author: Ray Bradbury
Literary time period / philosophy: contemporary, post modern era, Meta fictional
Contribution: Ray Bradbury wrote the novel because he wanted to express his fears during the McCarthy era when people were being questioned for being Communist. He also wanted to vocalize his fears of how book burning was becoming more popular among communist countries at the time. -
Author: William Golding
Literary period: Golding believed that evil resides in humanity, but society restrains them. It is a fictional allegory, can be interpreted as temporary, modern
Connection: The work connects to Great Expectations by Charles Dickens because both works reflect on society, as well as the weaknesses of human nature.
Contribution: Golding conveyed an important message that human beings must have laws and a government, in order to maintain a safe environment. -
Author: Irving Shulman
Inspired by William Shakespeare’s Romeo Juliet
The story displays the consequences of general hatred and violence.
Literary time period/ philosophy: 1950s New York City
Connection to other works: The work shares a similar story with Romeo and Juliet with two people from rival families deeply in love.
Contribution to literature: The work was considered innovative as it uses dance to tell most of the story. -
Author : Elie Wiesel
It is an autobiography that shows the hardships and horrors of the Holocaust that he experienced first hand.
Literary time period/ philosophy: Nazi Germany, autobiographical or personal memoir of time in concentration camps.
Connection: The work connects to the novel Book Thief, with both works sharing the setting of World War II.
Contribution: The work played an influential role in building a collective post-war memory of the Holocaust. -
Author : John Knowles
Literary period: World War II era, Bildungsroman, historical fiction
Connection: themes include friendship and honesty, like in Great Expectations, where Joe represents an emotionally honest friend, displaying the goodness of humanity. He still respected Pip and treated him kindly after the change in class and wealth.
Contribution: Display of growth and development a child goes through during the transition to adulthood. -
Author: Robert Bolt
Literary time period / philosophy: (set in Reformation in Britain, considered part of Renaissance), historical drama, commentary on corruption and wealth (shows fall of Moore and rise of Rich)
Contribution to literature: The work explores the religious and personal ethics which led to the death of Thomas More. It shares the importance of following one’s heart and doing what they believe is right, regardless of the consequences. -
Author: Sandra Cisneros
Type of work: novel made up of interconnected vignettes
Literary period: contemporary literature
Connection: The novel connects to My Antonia because both novels narrate the livelihoods of the characters.
Contribution: The work allows others to write their own experiences and their daily activities in life. The work is an example of Chicano literature and explores the complexities of its culture. -
Author: Jon Krakauer
Literary time period / philosophy: transcendentalism (19th century movement that influenced writer), (references to romanticism), 1990s
Contribution to literature: The story inspires the adventurous side that resides within us, and focuses on the philosophy of transcendentalism, which shares the idea that people are inherently good.
Contributions to other works: The novel references works by Emerson and Thoreau -
Author : Markus Zusak
Type of work: historical fiction, contemporary
Literary period: Second World War, from the point of death
Connection: The work relates to Night. Both take place during World War II. Macbeth and Book Thief also have ambitious characters. Lady Macbeth takes strides for Macbeth to become king, while Liesel takes ambitious steps to learn to read.
Contribution: The novel contrives a passionate message about overcoming obstacles while developing relationships with others.