Literature

With the development of language, the human imagination has found a way to create and communicate through the written word. A literary work can transport us into a fictional, fantastic new world, describe a fleeting feeling, or simply give us a picture of the past through novels, poems, tragedies, epic works, and other genres. Through literature, communication becomes an art, and it can bridge and bond people and cultures of different languages and backgrounds.

Watch Lady Macbeth exhort Macbeth to murder Duncan in William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth
Watch Lady Macbeth exhort Macbeth to murder Duncan in William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth
Explore Herman Melville's classic American short story “Bartleby the Scrivener” with Charles Van Doren
Explore Herman Melville's classic American short story “Bartleby the Scrivener” with Charles Van Doren
Watch an animated interpretation of Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem The Lady of Shalott
Watch an animated interpretation of Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem The Lady of Shalott
Watch self-blinded Oedipus confer with chorus leader about fulfillment of Apollo's prophecy in Oedipus Rex
Watch self-blinded Oedipus confer with chorus leader about fulfillment of Apollo's prophecy in Oedipus Rex
Watch Penelope greet Odysseus in an excerpt of the reunion scene in Homer's Odyssey
Watch Penelope greet Odysseus in an excerpt of the reunion scene in Homer's Odyssey
Analyze short fiction elements evidenced in “The Gift of the Magi,” “The Necklace,” and “The Magic Shop”
Analyze short fiction elements evidenced in “The Gift of the Magi,” “The Necklace,” and “The Magic Shop”
Hear about books that Prospero from William Shakespeare's The Tempest might treasure
Hear about books that Prospero from William Shakespeare's The Tempest might treasure
Hear about William Henry Ireland's fake manuscripts of William Shakespeare including a letter written to his wife
Hear about William Henry Ireland's fake manuscripts of William Shakespeare including a letter written to his wife
Watch the Weird Sisters conspire in the opening scene of William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth
Watch the Weird Sisters conspire in the opening scene of William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth
Hear a reading of ancient Greek poet Pindar's first Olympic ode, commissioned by Sicilian prince Hiero
Hear a reading of ancient Greek poet Pindar's first Olympic ode, commissioned by Sicilian prince Hiero
Explore the works and influence of Virginia Woolf
Explore the works and influence of Virginia Woolf
Examine John Stow's systematic description of 16th-century London in his work A Survey of London
Examine John Stow's systematic description of 16th-century London in his work A Survey of London
Watch dramatized scenes of Charles Dickens's Great Expectations with literary commentary by Clifton Fadiman
Watch dramatized scenes of Charles Dickens's Great Expectations with literary commentary by Clifton Fadiman
Hear about Austin Clarke's Mnemosyne Lay in Dust, a long poem recounting the poet's experience of mental disorder
Hear about Austin Clarke's Mnemosyne Lay in Dust, a long poem recounting the poet's experience of mental disorder
Find out why Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice is a joy to teach
Find out why Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice is a joy to teach
Explore essential elements of the novel with Clifton Fadiman and actors
Explore essential elements of the novel with Clifton Fadiman and actors
Follow a dramatization of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic American short story “Dr. Heidegger's Experiment”
Follow a dramatization of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic American short story “Dr. Heidegger's Experiment”
Take a seat at the Phaeacian feast and listen to Odysseus tell of his blinding cyclops giant Polyphemus
Take a seat at the Phaeacian feast and listen to Odysseus tell of his blinding cyclops giant Polyphemus
Travel with Puck as he gathers the special flower 'love-in-idleness' in a 1909 film adaption of Shakespeare's play “A Midsummer Night's Dream”
Travel with Puck as he gathers the special flower 'love-in-idleness' in a 1909 film adaption of Shakespeare's play “A Midsummer Night's Dream”
Explore English novelist Charles Dickens's early Victorian era and literature with Clifton Fadiman
Explore English novelist Charles Dickens's early Victorian era and literature with Clifton Fadiman
Listen to Agamemnon's ghost telling Odysseus how he was murdered
Listen to Agamemnon's ghost telling Odysseus how he was murdered
Learn about the love poetry written by Vittoria Colonna, Gaspara Stampa, and Lady Mary Wroth during the Renaissance
Learn about the love poetry written by Vittoria Colonna, Gaspara Stampa, and Lady Mary Wroth during the Renaissance
Take an in-depth look at Joseph Conrad's haunting short story “The Secret Sharer” with Charles Van Doren
Take an in-depth look at Joseph Conrad's haunting short story “The Secret Sharer” with Charles Van Doren
Listen to Norris Houghton discuss the difficulty of staging Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard
Listen to Norris Houghton discuss the difficulty of staging Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard
Consider science-fiction writer Ray Bradbury's views on Edgar Allan Poe's “The Fall of the House of Usher”
Consider science-fiction writer Ray Bradbury's views on Edgar Allan Poe's “The Fall of the House of Usher”
Follow a dramatization of the “Pardoner's Prologue” from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales
Follow a dramatization of the “Pardoner's Prologue” from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales
Hear about “Autobiography of Mark Twain” and the Mark Twain Papers at the Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley
Hear about “Autobiography of Mark Twain” and the Mark Twain Papers at the Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley
Learn about the digitizing endeavor of the German National Library in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Learn about the digitizing endeavor of the German National Library in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Examine Anton Chekhov's rebellion against the theatrical conventions of his day, as voiced in his play The Seagull
Examine Anton Chekhov's rebellion against the theatrical conventions of his day, as voiced in his play The Seagull
See an exhibition of comics from various countries curated by librarian Liladhar Pendse at UC Berkeley's Doe Library
See an exhibition of comics from various countries curated by librarian Liladhar Pendse at UC Berkeley's Doe Library
Examine the First Folio edition of William Shakespeare's plays and consider its allure for collectors and scholars
Examine the First Folio edition of William Shakespeare's plays and consider its allure for collectors and scholars
Watch a dramatization of The Well of the Saints by Irish literary renaissance poetic dramatist J.M. Synge
Watch a dramatization of The Well of the Saints by Irish literary renaissance poetic dramatist J.M. Synge
Hear Oedipus question a shepherd who affirms the prophecy is fulfilled in Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus Rex
Hear Oedipus question a shepherd who affirms the prophecy is fulfilled in Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus Rex
Compare Middle English and modern English readings of the opening lines of The Canterbury Tales
Compare Middle English and modern English readings of the opening lines of The Canterbury Tales
Listen to the story of Theodor Woldsen Storm's “The Rider on the White Horse” (“The Dykemaster”)
Listen to the story of Theodor Woldsen Storm's “The Rider on the White Horse” (“The Dykemaster”)
Discover how Voltaire might present Candide and discuss the Age of Enlightenment
Discover how Voltaire might present Candide and discuss the Age of Enlightenment
Listen to Shakespeare's Macbeth suffering pangs of guilt for a murder encouraged by Lady Macbeth
Listen to Shakespeare's Macbeth suffering pangs of guilt for a murder encouraged by Lady Macbeth
Learn about the characters of Othello as discussed by the cast and crew of a Folger Shakespeare Library production
Learn about the characters of Othello as discussed by the cast and crew of a Folger Shakespeare Library production
Learn about women's contributions to English literature during the 16th and 17th centuries
Learn about women's contributions to English literature during the 16th and 17th centuries
Listen to a commentary on the rivalry between Junius Brutus Booth and Edmund Kean competing as interpreters of William Shakespeare's Richard III in the early 19th century
Listen to a commentary on the rivalry between Junius Brutus Booth and Edmund Kean competing as interpreters of William Shakespeare's Richard III in the early 19th century
Odysseus interrogating Penelope in dramatization of Homer's Odyssey
Odysseus interrogating Penelope in dramatization of Homer's Odyssey
Watch Shakespeare's eponymous protagonist confront his mother's treachery against her husband and king
Watch Shakespeare's eponymous protagonist confront his mother's treachery against her husband and king
Watch Hamlet's tragic protagonist confront his mother, Queen Gertrude, and accidentally kill Polonius
Watch Hamlet's tragic protagonist confront his mother, Queen Gertrude, and accidentally kill Polonius
Explore five questions about Shakespeare's life
Explore five questions about Shakespeare's life
Experience a dramatization of Joseph Conrad's chilling short story “The Secret Sharer”
Experience a dramatization of Joseph Conrad's chilling short story “The Secret Sharer”
Examine three themes that tie together Homer's Odyssey
Examine three themes that tie together Homer's Odyssey
Listen to the letters of poet Emily Dickinson and Col. Thomas Higginson to glimpse her unique character
Listen to the letters of poet Emily Dickinson and Col. Thomas Higginson to glimpse her unique character
Understand the use of soliloquy in William Shakespeare's “Hamlet”
Understand the use of soliloquy in William Shakespeare's “Hamlet”
Learn about the life and works of Roald Dahl
Learn about the life and works of Roald Dahl
Find out about Jean Cocteau's Surrealist stage production of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Find out about Jean Cocteau's Surrealist stage production of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Experience a choral passage from the tragedy Oresteia by Classical Greek playwright Aeschylus
Experience a choral passage from the tragedy Oresteia by Classical Greek playwright Aeschylus
Watch Shakespeare's tragic protagonist Hamlet deliver a soliloquy in the second act of Hamlet
Watch Shakespeare's tragic protagonist Hamlet deliver a soliloquy in the second act of Hamlet
Explore a dramatization of Walter van Tilburg Clark's short story “The Portable Phonograph”
Explore a dramatization of Walter van Tilburg Clark's short story “The Portable Phonograph”
Learn about William Shakespeare's early boyhood and path to London to become a playwright and actor
Learn about William Shakespeare's early boyhood and path to London to become a playwright and actor
Unpack Ernest Hemingway's short story “My Old Man” and learn about the author's time as an expatriate in Paris
Unpack Ernest Hemingway's short story “My Old Man” and learn about the author's time as an expatriate in Paris
Hear director Joseph Haj exploring the spiritual side of William Shakespeare's pirate-packed Pericles
Hear director Joseph Haj exploring the spiritual side of William Shakespeare's pirate-packed Pericles
Explore the rich cultural history of Weimar, Germany
Explore the rich cultural history of Weimar, Germany
Understand a teacher's viewpoint on why Hamlet is her favorite Shakespeare play to teach
Understand a teacher's viewpoint on why Hamlet is her favorite Shakespeare play to teach
Learn how Audre Lorde became a poet
Learn how Audre Lorde became a poet
Learn how book donors from London enabled the building of the Chicago Public Library after the Great Chicago Fire
Learn how book donors from London enabled the building of the Chicago Public Library after the Great Chicago Fire
See Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky's short story “The Crocodile” brought to life
See Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky's short story “The Crocodile” brought to life
Watch part of the final act of Anton Chekhov's last play, The Cherry Orchard
Watch part of the final act of Anton Chekhov's last play, The Cherry Orchard
Learn about Whitman's novel Life and Adventures of Jack Engle and how it adumbrated themes in Leaves of Grass
Learn about Whitman's novel Life and Adventures of Jack Engle and how it adumbrated themes in Leaves of Grass
Discover what George Bernard Shaw might have to say about William Shakespeare's tragedy Julius Caesar
Discover what George Bernard Shaw might have to say about William Shakespeare's tragedy Julius Caesar
Listen to the chorus in Sophocles' Oedipus the King decrying human disregard of the gods
Listen to the chorus in Sophocles' Oedipus the King decrying human disregard of the gods
Listen to Shakespeare's titular character converse with Mark Antony about Cassius's loyalty
Listen to Shakespeare's titular character converse with Mark Antony about Cassius's loyalty
Watch William Shakespeare's tragic eponymous protagonist bemoan the unweeded garden that is the world
Watch William Shakespeare's tragic eponymous protagonist bemoan the unweeded garden that is the world
Watch dramatized scenes of Charles Dickens's Great Expectations with literary commentary by Clifton Fadiman
Watch dramatized scenes of Charles Dickens's Great Expectations with literary commentary by Clifton Fadiman
Watch the protagonist in Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet consider killing his king, uncle, and stepfather Claudius
Watch the protagonist in Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet consider killing his king, uncle, and stepfather Claudius
Explore Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story “Dr. Heidegger's Experiment” with Clifton Fadiman
Explore Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story “Dr. Heidegger's Experiment” with Clifton Fadiman
Follow Claire Bloom, Anthony Quinn, and Tennessee Williams behind the scenes of a theatrical production
Follow Claire Bloom, Anthony Quinn, and Tennessee Williams behind the scenes of a theatrical production
Experience a dramatization of Thornton Wilder's one-act drama The Long Christmas Dinner
Experience a dramatization of Thornton Wilder's one-act drama The Long Christmas Dinner
Investigate the moral and philosophical implications of Shakespeare's tragic protagonist's murderous crimes
Investigate the moral and philosophical implications of Shakespeare's tragic protagonist's murderous crimes
Explore the use of music, theme and variations, and condensed words in Thornton Wilder's Our Town
Explore the use of music, theme and variations, and condensed words in Thornton Wilder's Our Town
Explore John Keats's life through a dramatization penned by Archibald MacLeish and narrated by James Mason
Explore John Keats's life through a dramatization penned by Archibald MacLeish and narrated by James Mason
Listen to Professor Mark Thornton Burnett explaining why we can watch Shakespeare's films in other languages
Listen to Professor Mark Thornton Burnett explaining why we can watch Shakespeare's films in other languages
Discover one of the Enlightenment's greatest contributions to modern thought: the categorization of knowledge
Discover one of the Enlightenment's greatest contributions to modern thought: the categorization of knowledge
Listen to Odysseus wax poetic over homeland Ithaca in dramatization of Homer's epic poem Odyssey
Listen to Odysseus wax poetic over homeland Ithaca in dramatization of Homer's epic poem Odyssey
Know about Katherine Mansfield, her writing technique, influences, and contribution to literary modernism
Know about Katherine Mansfield, her writing technique, influences, and contribution to literary modernism
Learn why Herman Melville's enigmatic hero in the short story “Bartleby the Scrivener” prefers not
Learn why Herman Melville's enigmatic hero in the short story “Bartleby the Scrivener” prefers not
Hear Donald Moffatt as George Bernard Shaw discuss William Shakespeare's eponymous protagonist Julius Caesar
Hear Donald Moffatt as George Bernard Shaw discuss William Shakespeare's eponymous protagonist Julius Caesar
Travel to the turn of the 19th century to experience the Romantic musical, literary, and artistic movement
Travel to the turn of the 19th century to experience the Romantic musical, literary, and artistic movement
Hear a critical analysis of Hamlet's character in William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Hear a critical analysis of Hamlet's character in William Shakespeare's Hamlet
View a tutorial on the safe handling of rare books, manuscripts, and prints by the staff of the Folger Shakespeare Library
View a tutorial on the safe handling of rare books, manuscripts, and prints by the staff of the Folger Shakespeare Library
Learn about Charles Dickens and his contributions to the serial publication genre
Learn about Charles Dickens and his contributions to the serial publication genre
Uncover America's past at the Library of Congress, the world's largest library
Uncover America's past at the Library of Congress, the world's largest library
Hear how a teacher uses various speeches from Shakespeare's plays to teach his students
Hear how a teacher uses various speeches from Shakespeare's plays to teach his students
Listen to Clifton Fadiman discussing the publication of Frank Stockton's short story “The Lady, or the Tiger?”
Listen to Clifton Fadiman discussing the publication of Frank Stockton's short story “The Lady, or the Tiger?”
Learn about five English authors who are representative of Victorian literature
Learn about five English authors who are representative of Victorian literature
Witness Western theatre in the Middle Ages by following a troupe performing The Play of Abraham and Isaac
Witness Western theatre in the Middle Ages by following a troupe performing The Play of Abraham and Isaac
Travel to Frank Stockton's contemporary world in a production of the short story “The Lady, or the Tiger?”
Travel to Frank Stockton's contemporary world in a production of the short story “The Lady, or the Tiger?”
Watch William Shakespeare's eponymous protagonist dismiss Calpurnia's cautions in Julius Caesar
Watch William Shakespeare's eponymous protagonist dismiss Calpurnia's cautions in Julius Caesar
Listen to Clifton Fadiman's analysis of Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky's short story “The Crocodile”
Listen to Clifton Fadiman's analysis of Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky's short story “The Crocodile”
Learn about the importance of Dante's 'Inferno' to Irish writers and artists
Learn about the importance of Dante's 'Inferno' to Irish writers and artists
Watch a dramatization of Shirley Jackson's allegory of barbarism and social sacrifice “The Lottery”
Watch a dramatization of Shirley Jackson's allegory of barbarism and social sacrifice “The Lottery”
Compare Shirley Jackson's short story “The Lottery” to the Old Testament's Naboth with James Durbin
Compare Shirley Jackson's short story “The Lottery” to the Old Testament's Naboth with James Durbin
Learn about the impact of textual scholarship on the understanding of literary works, such as Shakespeare's plays Hamlet and King Lear
Learn about the impact of textual scholarship on the understanding of literary works, such as Shakespeare's plays Hamlet and King Lear
Hear the story of William Shakespeare's “The Comedy of Errors”
Hear the story of William Shakespeare's “The Comedy of Errors”
Four key questions about Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird
Four key questions about Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird
Enjoy an adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's classic American short story “My Old Man”
Enjoy an adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's classic American short story “My Old Man”
Discover how George Bernard Shaw might compare his Caesar and Cleopatra to William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
Discover how George Bernard Shaw might compare his Caesar and Cleopatra to William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
Listen to a teacher explaining the reason for Macbeth being her favorite Shakespeare play to teach
Listen to a teacher explaining the reason for Macbeth being her favorite Shakespeare play to teach
Listen to an analysis of Thornton Wilder's play Our Town
Listen to an analysis of Thornton Wilder's play Our Town
Hear a short summary of Shakespeare's “Hamlet”
Hear a short summary of Shakespeare's “Hamlet”
Watch the exchange between self-blinded Oedipus and Creon in Sophocles' Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex
Watch the exchange between self-blinded Oedipus and Creon in Sophocles' Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex