Esther's Classic Literature Blog December 2004 Archive

Each year, we make resolutions. Sometimes, we resolve to complete a series of life-changing tasks on the eve of the new year; or we may wait until an awakening event ... Read More

In Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton wrote: "The village lay under two feet of snow, with drifts at the windy corners. In a sky of iron the points of the Dipper hung ... Read More

In "Mrs. Dalloway," the heroine spends her day preparing for a party. She collects flowers, prepares her clothing, and prepares in other ways; but she also recollects her past loves ... Read More

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you washed up on a deserted island? Daniel Defoe dramatizes such an experience in "Robinson Crusoe"! Read on. Robinson Crusoe ... Read More

This time of the year if filled with wonderful feasts of food and drinks and conversation, but how does food figure into the literary experience? Whether the characters are eating, ... Read More

After the holidays are over, you'll hopefully have a few moments to pause and reflect on the year that has passed. Which classics have you read this year? How many ... Read More

It's Christmas! What are you reading about this holiday season? Do you have a traditional reading selection for this time of the year? Here are a few reading selections for ... Read More

Not a creature is stirring (probably not even a mouse). The cat is curled up by the fire--with a purr. And kids are curled up dreaming that Santa Claus soon ... Read More

It doesn't look like there will be snow on the ground for Christmas morning, but at least I can dream about the snow! Whether you're knee-deep in snowdrips, or sitting ... Read More

"A Christmas Carol," by Charles Dickens, is a favorite holiday classic. Here are a few resources related to this Christmas classic: Text: A Christmas Carol About "A Christmas Carol" Books About "A Christmas ... Read More

Speed reading isn't just about reading books fast; it's also about understanding what you read. Speed reading can help you get through the reading selection--whether you're reading the questions for ... Read More

Many Biblical scholars believe that Jesus Christ could not have been born on December 25, but the tradition of Christmas (the Mass of Christ) continues. Several sources place the date ... Read More

It's Winter Solstice time: December 21, 2004. Today marks the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere (and summer in the Southern Hemisphere), with the sun shining directly over ... Read More

John Steinbeck died on December 20, 1968. Steinbeck is known for his depictions of California and the Great Depression. His works include: "East of Eden," "The Grapes of Wrath," and ... Read More

In Old Christmas, Washington Irving writes, "There is nothing in England that exercises a more delightful spell over my imagination than the lingerings of the holiday customs and rural games ... Read More

Duchan Caudill writes, "Joseph Roth (1894-1939) ranks among the most important of early 20th-century European raconteurs. In his second novel, 'Hotel Savoy' (1924), he skillfully depicts a string of events ... Read More

John Greenleaf Whittier was born on December 17, 1807 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He was a well-known poet and abolitionist, with works like "Legends of New England" and "Snowbound." Read on: John ... Read More

On December 17th of 1843, Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol. Dickens writes: "External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill ... Read More

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775. With works like Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and Emma, Jane Austen became one of the most famous writers of ... Read More

Death is the the act of dying, and the state of being dead. Writers have created dramatic scenes of death and dying. Beowulf was killed in his final battle; ... Read More

"The Skin of Our Teeth," by Thornton Wilder was published in 1943 to critical and controversial acclaim. The play is a hilarious romp through human experience, taking in many of ... Read More

What are books, and why have they been handed down from generation to generation? A book is usually defined as a printed or written work. The book may have a ... Read More

Gustave Flaubert is probably still most famous for "Madame Bovary," a controversial book published in 1856. Flaubert was born in on December 12, 1821. Read more about the life and ... Read More

Fans of Sherlock Holmes have celebrated that famous detective in a number of ways: dressing as characters in Sherlock Holmes stories, sending letters to 221b Baker Street, participating in mystery ... Read More

In case you haven't yet heard, a new film version of "The Phantom of the Opera" is out, and it looks interesting. In an article for BBC News, James Bregman ... Read More

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts on December 10, 1830. Emily Dickinson was not well-known during her lifetime, as she lived in seclusion in Amherst, Massachusetts. Dickinson wrote ... Read More

What do you stuff in the stocking of the reader or book lover? Obviously, you could just get a bigger stocking to hang by the fire, but that's not always ... Read More

Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" was published in January 1813. The novel is about the Bennets: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. Love conquers all in the courtship of Mr. ... Read More

Hanukkah is Hebrew for "dedication." Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights, which is celebrated for 8 days and nights. This year, Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 7th. Read ... Read More

We celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. It's a day to think back on the history of St. Nicholas, also known as of Bari and Nicholas of Myra (and ... Read More

Antarctica is still a place of mystery after all these years. It still exists in almost completely pristine condition, but there are many stories to tell about the people who ... Read More

In Old Christmas, Washington Irving writes, "There is nothing in England that exercises a more delightful spell over my imagination than the lingerings of the holiday customs and rural games ... Read More

John Steinbeck's classic novel, "Of Mice and Men," was first published in 1937. Despite the controversies and book banning that have surrounded the text, this story of George and Lenny ... Read More

What is literature? Why do we read it? Why is literature important? Read more here: Literature Introductions to Literature How to Read Literature Like a Professor How To Succeed in Your Literature Class What to ... Read More

Snow is covering the ground. The chill is in the air. What are your favorite activities in the snow: sledding, skiing, making snow angels, or making a snowman? Whatever you're ... Read More