Novels for Students

by Thomason, Elizabeth

• ISBN13: 9780787648947
• ISBN10: 0787648949
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Gale / Cengage Learning

Summary

Each volume of Novels for Students contains easily accessible and content-rich discussions of the literary and historical background of 12 to 15 works from various cultures and time periods. Each novel included in this new resource was specially chosen by an advisory panel of teachers and librarians -- experts who have helped us define the information needs of students and ensure the age-appropriateness of this reference's content. Here are some of the novels they will find: "Juneteenth" by Ralph Ellison; "The French Lieutenant's Woman" by John Fowles; "The Immoralist" by Andre Gide; "Tambourines to Glory" by Langston Hughes; "Sophie's Choice" by William Styron; And more.

Table of Contents

Guest Foreword ``The Informed Dialogue: Interacting with Literature''	ix
Anne Devereaux Jordan
Introduction	xi
Literary Chronology	xv
Acknowledgments	xvii
Contributors	xxi
The Age of Innocence	1	(22)
Edith Wharton
Author Biography	2	(1)
Plot Summary	2	(2)
Characters	4	(3)
Themes	7	(1)
Style	8	(2)
Historical Context	10	(1)
Critical Overview	11	(2)
Criticism	13	(10)
Appointment in Samarra	23	(24)
John O'Hara
Author Biography	24	(1)
Plot Summary	24	(2)
Characters	26	(4)
Themes	30	(1)
Style	31	(1)
Historical Context	31	(2)
Critical Overview	33	(1)
Criticism	34	(13)
Bastard Out of Carolina	47	(21)
Dorothy Allison
Author Biography	48	(1)
Plot Summary	48	(2)
Characters	50	(4)
Themes	54	(2)
Style	56	(2)
Historical Context	58	(1)
Critical Overview	59	(2)
Criticism	61	(7)
Betsey Brown	68	(27)
Ntozake Shange
Author Biography	69	(1)
Plot Summary	69	(2)
Characters	71	(3)
Themes	74	(2)
Style	76	(1)
Historical Context	77	(2)
Critical Overview	79	(2)
Criticism	81	(14)
Body and Soul	95	(22)
Frank Conroy
Author Biography	96	(1)
Plot Summary	96	(2)
Characters	98	(3)
Themes	101	(1)
Style	102	(1)
Historical Context	103	(1)
Critical Overview	104	(2)
Criticism	106	(11)
Cane	117	(29)
Jean Toomer
Author Biography	118	(1)
Plot Summary	118	(2)
Characters	120	(4)
Themes	124	(2)
Style	126	(1)
Historical Context	127	(3)
Critical Overview	130	(1)
Criticism	131	(15)
The Clan of the Cave Bear	146	(28)
Jean Auel
Author Biography	147	(1)
Plot Summary	147	(2)
Characters	149	(1)
Themes	150	(2)
Style	152	(1)
Historical Context	152	(1)
Critical Overview	153	(2)
Criticism	155	(19)
The Crazy Horse Electric Game	174	(21)
Chris Crutcher
Author Biography	175	(1)
Plot Summary	175	(2)
Characters	177	(2)
Themes	179	(2)
Style	181	(1)
Historical Context	181	(1)
Critical Overview	182	(1)
Criticism	183	(12)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde	195	(24)
Robert Louis Stevenson
Author Biography	196	(1)
Plot Summary	196	(2)
Characters	198	(3)
Themes	201	(1)
Style	202	(2)
Historical Context	204	(1)
Critical Overview	205	(2)
Criticism	207	(12)
The Grass Dancer	219	(18)
Susan Power
Author Biography	220	(1)
Plot Summary	221	(3)
Characters	224	(3)
Themes	227	(1)
Style	228	(1)
Historical Context	229	(1)
Critical Overview	230	(1)
Criticism	230	(7)
Less Than Zero	237	(27)
Bret Easton Ellis
Author Biography	237	(1)
Plot Summary	238	(1)
Characters	239	(1)
Themes	240	(1)
Style	241	(1)
Historical Context	242	(1)
Critical Overview	243	(1)
Criticism	244	(20)
The Return of the Native	264	(21)
Thomas Hardy
Author Biography	264	(1)
Plot Summary	265	(2)
Characters	267	(2)
Themes	269	(1)
Style	270	(1)
Historical Context	271	(1)
Critical Overview	272	(2)
Criticism	274	(11)
A Room with a View	285	(28)
E. M. Forster
Author Biography	286	(1)
Plot Summary	286	(2)
Characters	288	(3)
Themes	291	(3)
Style	294	(1)
Historical Context	295	(2)
Critical Overview	297	(2)
Criticism	299	(14)
The Stone Angel	313	(24)
Margaret Laurence
Author Biography	314	(1)
Plot Summary	314	(2)
Characters	316	(3)
Themes	319	(1)
Style	320	(2)
Historical Context	322	(1)
Critical Overview	323	(1)
Criticism	324	(13)
Watership Down	337	(18)
Richard Adams
Author Biography	338	(1)
Plot Summary	339	(1)
Characters	340	(3)
Themes	343	(2)
Style	345	(1)
Historical Context	346	(1)
Critical Overview	346	(2)
Criticism	348	(7)
Glossary of Literary Terms	355	(12)
Cumulative Author/Title Index	367	(4)
Cumulative Nationality/Ethnicity Index	371	(4)
Subject/Theme Index	375