Told in rhyming text, Inside Cat views the world through many windows, watching the birds, squirrels, and people go by--but when the door opens it discovers a whole new view.

In this blend of fiction, allegory, and inspiration, Andrews tells the story of Jones--a mysterious man who shows up when things look the darkest for the people of Orange Beach, Alabama, and whose unique gift of noticing things that others miss helps us understand why things happen and what we can do about it.

"A marvelous new novel from the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Lowland and Interpreter of Maladies--her first in nearly a decade. Exuberance and dread, attachment and estrangement: in this novel, Jhumpa Lahiri stretches her themes to the limit. The woman at the center wavers between stasis and movement, between the need to belong and the refusal to form lasting ties. The city she calls home, an engaging backdrop to her days, acts as a confidant:...

Encouraged by her teacher to approach her art assignment from new points of view, Sophia produces a piece she is proud of, but can she persuade her hard-to-impress family to take a chance on a different perspective?

Influenced and educated by her parents, Frankenstein’s author, Mary Shelley, grew up in a world of radical artists and writers. Her immortal novel explores various themes of early-19th-century Romanticism. This clip looks at Mary Shelley’s background and major influences on her thinking and writing, giving students of English literature a broader understanding of the nature and significance of this notable work.

No, they’re not baby swans. Find out exactly what sonnets are and what they’re for. Even better, dissect two famous ones ("Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day"; "How Do I Love Thee") with the help of our two enthusiastic presenters. This in-depth look at the Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnet forms offers students specific technical detail that is easy to grasp and apply in their studies.

This program analyzes how Golding uses the novel to explore the nature of evil. Making detailed reference to the text, it examines the escalation of evil, how characters embrace or reject evil to different degrees, how evil comes to be symbolized by the beast, and how Simon recognizes its source and is destroyed by it.

There are almost as many poetic short forms as there are bunnies, but that won’t stop our presenters from trying to name them all! This fun introduction to short forms offers both an overview and a close look at four forms: haiku, cinquain, limerick, and triolet. Sample poems and specific information about their crafting will aid students in their study and appreciation of poetry.

Is poetry dead—too slow for our wired, sound-bite world? Even if poetry is no more, says David Gewanter, then it still leaves its DNA lying around or moves like a virus passing from body to body, playing witness to our most vital moments. Gewanter, a poet, essayist, and editor, offers his humble opinion on why verse remains relevant.

Bet you thought you’d never find these words in the same sentence: sharks, tuxedoes, and poetry. In this rapid-fire look at narrative poetry, you will. Thankfully, it’s also highly educational! Learn about the ancient origins of narrative poetry, typical elements, and popular forms like ballads, idylls, and epics. Beloved classics including Beowulf, The Man from Snowy River, and Paradise Lost are discussed.