Video Lesson on First Generation Romantic Poets – W. Wordsworth and S. T. Coleridge

This video lesson is dedicated to the First Generation Romantic Poets, William Wordsworth and Samuel T. Coleridge, providing an outline of their literary inspirations and themes, examining their similarities and … Continue reading Video Lesson on First Generation Romantic Poets – W. Wordsworth and S. T. Coleridge

Video Lesson on THE ROMANTIC AGE

This Video Lesson illustrates the themes and characteristics of the Romantic Age, a time of transition introducing new ideas and perspectives, in contrast with the main ideas that characterised instead the Augustan Age, therefore more concerned with feelings and sensations, rather than the blind faith in scientific progress and reason brought to its extremes.

Video Lesson on LITERATURE IN THE MIDDLE AGES

In this video lesson I discuss the different poetic genres and the theatre that developed during Medieval Times thanks to their relative economic and political stability.
It illustrates the characteristics of the Medieval Ballad, the Narrative Poem and, as far as the theatre is concerned, the Miracle Plays, the Pageant, the Morality Plays and, finally, the Interlude.

REPORTED SPEECH – part 1

It’s easier than you think, a quick and brief guide to master Reported Speech. Needless to say that practice is also essential.

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).

The Handkerchief in Othello

Video Lesson n. 2 – Excerpts Taken from “Othello”, W. Shakespeare

Reading and anlysis of three important moments of the tragedy that will climax in Desdemona’s murder, one of the most famous literary femicides underlining women’s subordinate role in society then as today.

Othello and Desdemona

Video Lesson n. 1 – Excerpts Taken From “Othello”, W. Shakespeare

Reading and anlysis of three important moments of the tragedy that will climax in Desdemona’s murder, one of the most famous literary femicides underlining women’s subordinate role in society then as today.

Orlando, 1928- V. Woolf

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. 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

The neutral pronoun “IT” and spelling skills

This short video is meant to help those who want to learn English with few essential tips. In this specific case I discuss why the third person singular pronoun “IT”, the neutral pronoun, is so important; why short answers are important too and why (especially for Italians) is it crucial to learn spelling skills.

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)