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Ancient Greek Literature The literature of the ancient Greeks forms one of the pillars of modern Western civilization. Very few people, of course, can read ancient Greek. However, many surviving works have been translated into modern English, and this Web site will help you access a great many texts. Read the work of Aeschylus (tragedy), Aesop (fables), Aristophanes (comedy and satire), Aristotle (philosophy and science), Epictetus (philosophy), Euripides (tragedy), Herodotus (history), Homer (epic poetry), Plato (philosophy and science), Sophocles (tragedy) and Thucydides (history). Web:
Anglo-Saxon Tales In the movie "Annie Hall", Annie (Diane Keaton) is trying to decide on an adult education course to take. Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) advises her, "Just don't take any course where they make you read 'Beowulf'." So who was this Beowulf guy, anyway? In the middle of the 5th century, after the withdrawal of the Romans, Germanic tribes from Europe overran England, bringing the Anglo-Saxon language -- also known as Old English -- with them. Anglo-Saxon was used increasingly until the Norman invasion (William the Conqueror in 1066 and all that), after which time French replaced Anglo-Saxon as the most important language in England. Anglo-Saxon literature is a rich area of scholarship, perhaps best known for an epic poem named "Beowulf". "Beowulf" was written in the 8th century and can be considered the epitome of Anglo-Saxon literature. The poem begins and ends with the funeral of a great king (Beowulf), the story being told against the background of an impending disaster. Beowulf is a Scandinavian hero who, in the course of the poem, destroys a monster named Grendal and Grendal's mother, as well as a fire-breathing dragon. If you ask me what I think of the poem "Beowulf", I would have to tell you frankly I have trouble understanding all the nuances. However, I did like "Annie Hall". Web:
British Authors You have probably heard of the poet Shelley (1792-1822). What you may not know is his middle name. In Shelley's time, it would have been very difficult to find this information. You would have had to travel all the way to England, get him drunk and, once his guard was lowered, see if you could get him to tell you his full name. Now, all you have to do is look it up on the Net. (Shelley's middle name, by the way, was Bysshe. However don't feel too sorry for him. His son Percy's middle name was Florence.) Web:
Chinese Literature The history of Chinese literature stretches back several thousand years. The oldest existing works date from the late Chou dynasty (c. 1207-256 B.C.) and include: "Five Classics of Confucianism", traditionally attributed to Confucius; the "Book of Changes" (the I Ching), a system of fortune telling and predicting the future; the "Book of Rites", which describes ceremonies and the ideal state; the "Book of History", a collection of historical records; the "Book of Songs", poems about war, love and life; and "The Way and Its Power", the traditional basis of Taoism. Web:
English Server This Web site offers a colossal collection of literature resources. Just about any subject you can think of will be here: autobiographies, plays, essays, jokes, novels, poems, speeches, short stories, and many other items of interest. If you ever get a spare moment, go immediately to this site. I guarantee within two minutes you'll find something engaging. Web: French Literature
As with other languages, French literature began with the creation of poetry, particularly epics. In honor of the French tradition, I have written the following poem: Web:
German Stories If you are a fan of German literature, you will enjoy this collection of 19th century German stories and poems, most of which have English translations available. Aside from the stories and poems, there are wonderful old illustrations. The collection is limited but well worth your time. Web:
Literature Collection Talk and General Discussion The oldest and most renowned collection of literature on the Net is Project Gutenberg. This mailing list is for discussion of issues related to this ambitious project.
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Middle English Literature Middle English refers to the dialects of English spoken from about 1100 to 1500 A.D. This Web site is a valuable reference for students, researchers and fans of Middle English literature. You can find not only the texts of many works, but information and commentary about important authors such as Chaucer, Gawain, Langland, Julian, Kempe and Malory. Even if you have absolutely no interest in Middle English, take a few moments to browse this site. I think you will find it interesting to take a look at a Middle English text, just to see what the language looked like. If you do get interested, you will find translations of many of the texts into modern English. Web:
Online Books There are many, many books available to read for free on the Net. Although it is not always as comfortable to read books on your computer screen as it is on paper, there are some advantages to using an electronic version. For example, it is easy to search the entire text for a particular word or phrase. And, once you have the text, you can manipulate it with a regular editing program or a word processor. Web:
Secular Web The Secular Web -- which contains a literature archive -- is maintained by a group called the Internet Infidels. The Infidels promote the philosophy of secularism: the belief that morality and education should not be based on religion. If you are religious, I understand that this philosophy may be in direct contradistinction to everything you believe (or have been taught). However, the books and articles at this site all resonate around the idea that people can actually think for themselves and should be able to choose to accept or reject important ideas on their own merit. Take a look and see what you think. Web: Short Stories The definition of a short story is a work of fiction that you can read at one sitting. My favorite short stories are the ones written by P.G. Wodehouse, Isaac Asimov, and me. (The order depends upon my mood.) Web:
Victorian Literature The study of Victorian literature covers the work of 19th-century English writers. The Victorian era (named for Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901) was rich in cultural, scientific and social development. In particular, England was blessed with an outpouring of literature, much of which is popular to this day. Many of the great Victorian writers are as famous today as they were in their own time: Charlotte Brontė, Emily Brontė, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Robert Browning, Thomas Carlyle, Lewis Carroll, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Rudyard Kipling, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Alfred Tennyson, W.M. Thackeray, Anthony Trollope and Oscar Wilde. If you have never read any Victorian literature, why not give it a try? I suggest Oscar Wilde's book, "The Picture of Dorian Gray". Web:
Western European Literature There is lots of literature on the Net, but it is not always so easy to find what you want. Here is a Web site that will help you find literature in a large number of European languages: Catalan, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Old Norse, Portuguese, Provenēal, Spanish and Swedish. Select the language in which you are interested, and you will be shown a selection of resources to explore. Web:
Women and Literature The study of women's literature has become an important part of our academic tradition. Studying such literature introduces you to a comprehensive view of societies and cultures (as opposed to dwelling on wars and politics). Experience the remarkable writing of women in literature. These sites celebrate numerous women authors, including notables such as Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, Emily Brontė and Sylvia Plath. Web:
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