“The Little Black Boy”, by William Blake
Textual Analysis From Songs of Innocence (1789) My mother bore me in the southern wild, And I am black, but oh my soul is white! White as … Continue reading “The Little Black Boy”, by William Blake
Tag: English Literature
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) Video Lesson
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) is the second of the three writers of the Augustan Age discussed in the English Course addressed to 4th year Secondary School Italian Students. The video lesson discusses Swift’s writing techniques and the strong criticism towards political, social and religious controversies of his time through a mastery of satire largely used in his works. The two main works discussed are his masterpiece, “Gulliver’s Travels”, published in 1726 and “A Modest Proposal” a pamphlet of political satire, published in 1729.
Excerpt from “A Modest Proposal” by J. Swift
A satirical pamphlet in which Jonathan Swift denounces the incompetence and inadequacy of the English government regarding the Irish issue and its people’s despairing situation during his time.
Daniel Defoe (The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders) Video Lesson n. 2
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) is the author of “The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders” (1722) one of his two most renowned novels, the other one is “Robinson Crusoe” which is also generally considered the first modern novel of English literature. In this novel the protagonist, Moll Flanders, can be said to be the female counterpart of the other novel’s protagonist, Robinson. In “Moll Flanders”, Defoe, unlike in his previous novel, highlights the negative aspects of the emerging industrial English society and points out at women’s poor life-conditions during this time emphasising how their struggle is much more incessant, bitter than that that the rising middle class man faces, thus causing at times mental and emotional distress. Therefore, in this case, Defoe even if he still celebrates the individual’s will power and inner strength as qualities needed to succeed, he also points out the downsides of the Augustan Age (1714-1760).
Daniel Defoe (Robinson Crusoe) Video Lesson n. 1
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) is the author of “Robinson Crusoe” (1719) which is generally considered the first modern novel of English literature. This novel celebrates the rising middle class individual and it belongs to the Augustan Age which is an historical and literary current (1714-1760).
Video Lesson n. 4 – Comparing Virginia Woolf’s and James Joyce’s Stream of Consciousness
Virginia Woolf and James Joyce are the most representantive writers of the Stream of Consciousness technique which has so greatly influenced the prose of the twentienth century and beyond.
Video Lesson n. 3 – Comparing Virginia Woolf’s and James Joyce’s Stream of Consciousness
Virginia Woolf and James Joyce are the most representantive writers of the Stream of Consciousness technique which has so greatly influenced the prose of the twentienth century and beyond.
Video Lesson n. 2 – Comparing Virginia Woolf’s and James Joyce’s Stream of Consciousness
Virginia Woolf and James Joyce are the most representantive writers of the Stream of Consciousness technique which has so greatly influenced the prose of the twentienth century and beyond. This … Continue reading Video Lesson n. 2 – Comparing Virginia Woolf’s and James Joyce’s Stream of Consciousness
Video Lesson n.1 – Comparing Virginia Woolf’s and James Joyce’s Stream of Consciousness
Virginia Woolf and James Joyce are the most representantive writers of the Stream of Consciousness technique which has so greatly influenced the prose of the twentienth century and Beyond.
Video Lesson n. 2 – William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
The topic discussed in this second video on the English bard is his tragedies and comedies, moreover the reasons that make him and his art immortal and universal. Image taken … Continue reading Video Lesson n. 2 – William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Video Lesson n. 1 – William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
The topic of discussion in this group of video lessons is William Shakespeare, true talent, as it often happens, is revealed by uniqueness. This is definately the case with this … Continue reading Video Lesson n. 1 – William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Video Lesson n. 1 – English Renaissance in Literature
This first video lesson on English Literature in the Renaissance describes what led to Humanism and, later at its peak, to Renaissance. It concerns it general aspects and an analysis of prose writing.
