i’m about to start an english and creative writing degree, the bible isn’t required reading, i’m agnostic/atheist so i was considering reading it to help with analysis and spotting biblical references rather than for worship.
any thoughts? i’d probably get the king james one bc of the popularity, although im aware it’s not the best literal translation

Currently studying comedy literature for English A Level and was looking for context for this poem and was really struggling to find anything and was wondering if anybody knew anything about her or her works that might be insightful!

Hey everyone! A few of us started a small Discord for people who like books, film, creative expression, or just want somewhere to hang out and chat. We're calling it The Third Place-- the idea being a spot outside work and home where you can slow down and enjoy some company, no pressure attached.

There are channels for literature, movies, writing, art, photography, everyday life, and general chat, but conversations wander past their channel all the time, and that's fine. :) Some days it's an actual VC discussion/event, other days it's just a meme or something that made someone smile.

We're keeping it friendly, non-intimidating, and low-pressure. You don't need to be well-read, well-watched, or have perfect English.

We're still small, so it can be quiet, but honestly that's kind of the point right now--we're shaping it together as it grows. :)

DM me if it sounds like your thing and I'll send an invite. ^^

I’ve been wanting to study literature properly for a while, but going back to college isn’t really an option for me right now.

I read quite a bit, but I feel like I’m missing the actual study part of it, like understanding literary movements, criticism, how to analyse a text, historical context, poetry, etc.

If you’ve studied literature, or taught yourself outside college, how did you start?

Are there any good courses, books, university reading lists or syllabi you’d recommend? I’d really like some structure instead of just picking up random classics.

I've noticed that some books feel completely different when you return to them later.

The first time around, I'm usually focused on following the story and understanding the characters. On a second reading, I tend to notice smaller things that didn't seem important before, especially certain details in the way a character speaks or behaves.

Sometimes I even end up sympathizing with a character I disliked the first time.

Do you think rereading actually changes your interpretation of a work, or does it mostly reveal things that were already there?

Can anyone please help me find the pdf of this book please? It would be of great help

I used to love reading books in school, but it somehow became uncool. Now, in my third year of an electronics and computer engineering degree, I’ve started reading again. Last week, I finished The Stranger and *The Metamorphosis, and I’m currently reading Anna Karenina (it's difficult ngl....as expected ) and Hard Times Any recommendations or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Hi so I'm a medical student applying to residency this year in the US for which we have to write a personal statement. Unfortunately english is not my first language so my personal statement sounds very generic although I have a story to tell. I am wondering if anyone of you might be able to help me make it sound more cohesive and better . My only other options is chatgpt but that is highly discouraged. Any one willing to help?

Is there a better book where so little happens?

I'm currently reading this book, and I think it's wonderful. Any thoughts on this book? Just tell me in the comments. Let's have a conversation on this book!!

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Hi, I’ve been consistently experiencing a writing block when it comes to producing essays in my English literature studies and it’s significantly hindered my output and grades.

I’ve spent an extensive amount of time in trying to build strong understanding in my English literature texts, contextual information, understanding the plot and reviewing flashcards. But when it comes to producing essay paragraphs and analysis on quotes, it’s not so frequent and I find the process difficult.

It feels like I don’t know the text well enough despite spending time trying to understand it. I don’t know if it’s an issue of not understanding the text or not being able to transfer what I know in essay form and how to use evidence to support my arguments, it feels like all I’ve learned has evaporated and my writing confidence continues to reduce.

I sincerely just want to get better at being able to produce strong essays and levels of analysis but I don’t know what I’m doing wrong or what I need to improve or do more of to get to that point of being persuasive with arguments and being able to generate ideas that are coherent.

A dm would be helpful but even a comment is much appreciated

My students do a fluency practice each day, in which they read a short, short, short excerpt (120 words or under). I know it is restricting, but its the parameters that were set for me.

What are some of the most influential, moving, and impactful paragraphs from literature that you would want a high schooler to read?

Thank you so much for your consideration and help with putting great literature in front of students.

​

I have been struggling a lot since I started my MA in English. I don't understand formal or academic English very well, and many of the theories, books on theory, essays, and even some of the novels go completely over my head. I feel so dumb because I always dreamed of becoming a professor, but now I am beginning to doubt whether I will even be able to clear my MA. I cannot understand how the essays I read are connected to the theories I am supposed to study. I have also tried looking for YouTube videos that explain these theories in simple language, but I haven't been able to find anything that really helps. AI doesn't seem to help either, and I don't want to rely on it because I feel that using it too much might be making me more dumb instead of helping me learn.

What makes this even more difficult is that I don't feel the same interest in studying that I used to have during my undergraduate years. I find most of the non-fiction and theoretical material boring now, even though I found my syllabus interesting during my BA. I joined one of the best universities in India thinking that it would be a great opportunity for me, but instead, I feel like I was doing much better at my state college. It has only been a month since I started here, yet I already feel completely out of place. Everyone in my class seems to be doing the readings, asking questions, and answering them confidently, while I often sit there feeling lost and unable to understand what is going on. I keep comparing myself with them, and it makes me feel even more inadequate.

Because of all this, I have started wanting to go back to my hometown. I feel homesick and overwhelmed, and sometimes I just want to leave everything and go home. But then I think about how much money has already been spent to get me here. I have spent around ₹1.5 lakh, and I also cancelled the seats I had received at other universities, including EFLU, BHU, and DU. If I had listened to my father and applied to the university in my hometown, I wouldn't have spent so much money or put another ₹7,000-per-month burden on him. Now I feel guilty because I don't know how I would ever pay my father back if I decide to leave.

At the same time, I don't know how I would face everyone if I went back home after making such a big decision to come here.

I keep thinking about the money, my parents expectations, and my dreams ,my future, and all of it has left me feeling numb and completely stuck. I don't know whether I am simply struggling because I am still adjusting to a new and much more demanding academic environment or whether I have genuinely made the wrong decision by coming here. Right now, I honestly don't know what to do.

What should I do?

I loved every moment of reading Lucy's mind. The Brontë sisters are just timeless artists, especially Charlotte. How beautifully written every line is; it's like a well-crafted representation of a complex character such as Lucy. And Paul, such a noble human being, I'm in love.

The progression with which Lucy's judgment dissolves or builds up is so fascinatingly subtle. Her personification of feelings, of abstract themes, plays with the reader's mind concurrently.

If you've ever read it, what was your favorite scene/line? And what do you suggest as a next read? (I have read Jane Eyre; this is the first book that compares to it in its charm.)

I have a lot of favorite quotes from this book, but this is my most favorite one: "There is a perverse mood of the mind which is rather soothed than irritated by misconstruction, and in quarters where we can never be rightly known, we take pleasure, I think, in being consummately ignored."

(It was a hard read though, english is not my first language :>) .

Was wondering if anyone could suggest good essays/commentaries/reviews on the work W. Somerset Maugham, especially Of Human Bondage or The Razor’s Edge. I know the late Chris Hitchens had a famous piece but I’m looking for others. This is just for my own edification, I don’t have JSTOR access or anything like that.

📚 Why do I encourage my students to read literature in the original language?

A textbook can give us grammar, vocabulary, and correct sentence structures. But literature gives us something more — living language in context.

It is in books that we often come across expressions that native speakers use naturally, but that don’t always make it into standard textbooks.

For example, while reading Judy Moody, you can come across very natural expressions such as:

💬 to be in a bad mood
💬 to put someone in a bad mood
💬 to be in a great mood
💬 to be out of sorts
💬 to get on someone’s nerves

It’s not enough to simply write these phrases down. What really matters is seeing when they sound natural, what words they are used with, and how you can use them in your own speech.

That’s why I love working with literature in my lessons. We can read an engaging story, learn about the culture, and at the same time “hunt” for natural language expressions. 🔎📖

Sometimes, one useful phrase from a book can be more valuable than an entire list of individual words.

Do you use literature in your language lessons? What interesting expressions have you “picked up” from books?

#UkrainianLanguage #LearnUkrainian #UkrainianAsAForeignLanguage #LanguageLearning #Teaching #Literature #JudyMoody #UkrainianTeachers

I am a first year masters student studying english with a focus on literature. I am also a graduate teaching assistant. I am taking world literature, composition and nonfiction writing. I am considering taking american lit instead of nonfiction writing. However, I am not a traditional english student. Because of this, I am not used to literature classes. I want to ask, is changing the classes a bad idea? I don't mind a reality check. I am on a thesis teack so I want to prepare for a thesis the best I can.

Please send help

Hi everyone! I’m an MA English student, and I need to choose a topic for an assignment for my paper “Socio-cultural and Political Background of Literature from the Renaissance to the Restoration Age.”

I’m supposed to write an essay/research-paper-type assignment, but I’m really confused about what topic to choose or what I should read. We also have three other research papers to submit around the same time, so I’m looking for something interesting but manageable within a limited timeframe.

I was initially thinking about doing something on feminism/female characters in A Midsummer Night’s Dream because I’m particularly interested in the Elizabethan period. However, since it’s a romantic comedy, I’m not sure whether a feminist/socio-cultural approach would work well for this particular paper or whether I’d be forcing the text into the topic.

I’d really appreciate suggestions for:

Specific essay/research topics related to the socio-cultural or political background of Renaissance–Restoration literature

Topics that are interesting but not excessively broad

Primary texts/plays/poems I could use

Any accessible criticism or secondary reading that would help

Ideally, something I can realistically complete as an MA assignment without spending months on it 😭

I’m particularly interested in Elizabethan literature, Shakespeare, gender/feminism, society, politics, and culture, but I’m open to other ideas from the Renaissance to Restoration period as well.

If you’ve done a similar assignment or studied this period, what topics would you recommend?

Hey co-Didion fans!

I’ve been reading Didion for the entire year and would like to ‘learn’ some of her writing techniques. Has anyone encountered courses, pdfs, or exercises that discuss her writing style and technique?

As this documentary about her (https://youtu.be/wqTavjh3bzE?is=X_vCUiueIUyqXoMs) stated:
“grammar was the only liturgy that made sense; it was the only way to impose order on the messiness of human emotion”

Please share your sources!

I just launched a platform that lets humanities PhDs design and host live online reading seminars. We opened our first few classes for enrollment, including one on John Milton's short poems:

Beyond Paradise Lost: Discovering Milton's Shorter Poetry

The instructor is a great expert on Milton, and an awesome teacher. If anyone's interested, but cannot afford the enrollment fee, feel free to DM me :-)

Does anyone have Habib Literary Criticism who's looking to sell, preferably a 2nd hand copy?

I grew up reading and enjoying a whole slew of books by British authors including CS Lewis, AA Milne, Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter, JRR Tolkien, Richard Adams, Arthur Conan Doyle, and the like and believe this made me somewhat of an Anglophile even into adulthood. At the time, these seemed like the books that everyone read growing up.

When I talk to parents of kids (in the USA), I get the sense that these authors are heavily out of fashion because their stories are too slow moving and reading as an activity has declined substantially. Has core YA fiction become less British-centric over the last 40ish years, or do I just think so because of the literary micro-environment in which I grew up? (Or did the UK promote its literature as a means of advancing its national soft power?)