Title Author Educational Value Sensitive Content Antigone Sophocles Antigone offers the portrayal of the Oedipus family and what happens when pride becomes more important than family. The Greek play focuses on Greek tragedy and the catharsis the audience feels when the tragedy is complete. The educational value of this novel is students will recognize the concept of tragedy and possibly connect with the idea of catharsis. Tragedy Political unrest Rivalry Historical connection Enemy of the People Henrik Ibsen Enemy of the People describes and attacks the institution of liberal newspapers. The play focuses on the way an individual can and will be ostracized by a society. The educational value of this novel is students will recognize the concept of two party systems. Politics Political unrest Rivalry
Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad Joseph Conrad s 1899 novella is an intense journey into the psyches of a rogue ivory trader in the Congo and the British ship captain who pursues him, recounting the horrors he saw on his quest. Conrad exposes the true nature of Imperialism. Thematically rich, this novel appears frequently on the AP Literature test. The hypocrisy of imperialism The absurdity of evil Ibsen Four Plays Henrik Ibsen A Doll s House - This play shows the conflicts that existed between men and women as gender roles and modern society changed. The marriage between the protagonist and her husband is challenged when they realize they have been seeking only to fit assigned roles rather than develop individual accountability. The themes of honesty and authenticity can be a starting point for student conversation and writing about self-determination. Self-determination Love versus selfishness
Inferno, The Dante Alighieri The Inferno offers a representation of man s journey from being passionate to embracing the idea of human reason. Dante s trip through Hell is allegorical, and his trip warns humanity about what will happen to human-kind if individuals continue to behave badly. The educational value in this novel is students will identify and analyze the concepts of justice, retribution, and forgiveness. Justice Retribution Forgiveness Metamorphosis, The Franz Kafka The Metamorphosis offers students a picture of disconnection, alienation, and the mundane tasks of life. Through transformation, Kafka addresses the topic of psychological change. The educational value of this novel is students will distinguish the differences between alienation, insanity, and sympathy. Working class elite Disconnection/Alienation Insanity Sympathy
Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities offers students a portrayal of social issues during the eighteenth century. A Tale of Two Cities discusses resurrection and sacrifice for the common good. Human s nature to preserve life against all odds is illustrated in the novel. The educational value of this novel is students will identify and relate to the class discrepancy that plagues all nations. Resurrection Sacrifice Revolution Oppression Imprisonment Siddhartha Herman Hesse Siddhartha offers students a picture into the world of the discovery of the meaning of life through exploration of the Buddhist faith. Siddhartha emphasizes the concept of all forms of life are interconnected and that connection will help one to understand the meaning of life. The educational value of Siddhartha is that students will examine the ideas of enlightenment by following Siddhartha through his coming of age. Sexual Content Enlightenment Guidance Wisdom Love Polar opposites Coming of age
Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights offers a depiction of life during Victorian England and the struggle with social class. The jealousy, vengefulness, and poverty permeated the lives of the haves versus the have-nots, making most of the characters loathsome. The educational value of Wuthering Heights is that students will compare the conflicts of the characters and how their actions affect not only themselves, but generations to follow. Mature Content Jealousy Vengefulness Social class Conflict Historical context Enslavement 1984 George Orwell aka Eric Blair 1984 offers a representation of a world in which personal freedom is non-existent, government control is the norm, and humanity lives in a totalitarian society. The dystopian future is monitored constantly by technology. The educational value in 1984 is students will contrast and evaluate the dangers of a totalitarian society. Dystopian Anti-totalitarian Technology Historical context Mature Content
Oedipus the King Sophocles Oedipus the King offers a representation of tragedy, deceit, and how excessive pride will destroy a community. Excessive pride is shown to not only ruin political harmony; excessive pride may also destroy personally. The educational value of Oedipus the King is students will analyze and compare how the idea of pride can cause destruction for many generations. Law Truth Free will Tragedy Pride Fate Aeneid, The (GCA) Virgil The Aeneid tells the story of an epic voyage in which Aeneas crosses stormy seas, becomes entangled in a tragic love affair with Dido of Carthage, descends to the world of the dead - all the way tormented by the vengeful Juno, Queen of the Gods - and finally reaches Italy, where he will fulfill his destiny: to find the Roman people. A stirring tale of arms and heroism, dispossession and defeat, and an unsparing portrait of a man caught between love, duty, and fate, Aeneas models for readers a selfless sense of duty toward one's filial, religious, and societal obligations, which was a crux of ancient Roman morality. Heroism Leadership Love Religious duty