Walt Whitman's passionate writing style and bold subject matter have deeply influenced American poetry. Nearly all of his poems were published in Leaves of Grass, which Whitman obsessively expanded, edited, and republished throughout his life, ultimately leaving behind a powerful literary legacy. Twenty of his most commonly read and studied poems are discussed in depth in this volume, which also features ideas for essay topics to assist students in developing critical-thinking skills.

From the modernist explorations of the first half of the 20th century to the diverse styles and practitioners of the 21st century, contemporary American poetry has forged a vital and enduring tradition. This volume explores the genre's recent history and development, as succeeding generations of poets have taken up the American idiom and molded it into their own unique modes of expression. This new edition explores contemporary poetry through a selection of critical essays and also features an introductory essay by esteemed professor Harold Bloom.

William Shakespeare's comedies--including A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice, and more--are funny, allusive, difficult, profound, and unforgettable, and have served as templates for other comedic works throughout the centuries. This invaluable new study guide contains a selection of the finest contemporary criticism of these classic plays.

William Shakespeare is defined by his tragedies. His unique ability to create a moral universe complete unto itself lends his characters not only their stamp of authenticity but their bid to eternity as well. New full-length critical essays take up the Bard's tragic dramas, offering new perspectives on the fated lives of King Lear, Hamlet, Macbeth, Antony, and Cleopatra, and the many other vibrantly flawed personages he introduced to the world stage. This new edition also contains a chronology, a bibliography, an index, and an introductory essay from Yale University's Harold Bloom.

Shakespeare's vibrant history plays, including Richard II; Richard III; Henry IV, Parts I and II; and Henry V; spring to life with all the drama of the feuds, rivalries, and epic battles on which they were based. Aware of the historical past and a keen observer of his own times, Shakespeare's true genius lies in the timeless universality he lends to the lives of these legendary royals and the schemers and dreamers who made up their worlds. This new edition of critical essays covering the Bard's history plays also includes a chronology, bibliography, index, and introductory essay by...

Julius Caesar is one of Shakespeare's most majestic works. Set in the tumultuous days of ancient Rome, the play is renowned for its memorable characters and political intrigue, which have been captivating audiences and readers since it was first presented more than 400 years ago. This new edition of critical essays examining the Bard's Julius Caesar features an introductory essay by esteemed scholar Harold Bloom, notes on the contributing writers, a bibliography, a chronology, and an index for quick reference.

Widely acclaimed as one of the finest short story writers and known for her acerbic wit, complex themes, and acutely observed portrayals of the American South, Flannery O'Connor is a favorite among students, scholars, and general readers. Her stories "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" and "Everything That Rises Must Converge" are considered classics of the form, fusing the ludicrous and mundane with O'Connor's powerful explorations of redemption and morality. This new collection of critical essays presents a chronology of O'Connor's life, a bibliography of her works, an index, and an...

Through the years, this Canadian writer has emerged as a master of the short story. The compressed and encapsulated energies of the form allow Alice Munro to peel away at the smooth and mundane surfaces that contain her characters' lives to reveal harsher truths within. This acclaimed writer is profiled for the first time in this indispensable series through full-length critical essays that plumb the depths of her rich, fictive worlds. In this new work, a chronology of her life, a bibliography of Munro's work, and an index provide valuable information for student researchers.