Reminds us that the concept of World Literature as literary study contributing to the humanistic goal of universal tolerance was first expressed by Goethe, and indicates several ways of teaching German literature with that goal in mind. (Editor)

Explains some of the problems of teaching non-Western literature in a substantially Western educational curriculum, but indicates how it might be done nevertheless. (Editor)

Two epic poems from India, "The Mahabharata" and "The Ramayana" have endured for more than 2,000 years as important parts of Indian culture, and the study of these epics can yield insights into Indian life and religion. This paper contains a list of the major characters and an explanation of the major themes in both books. The…

Intended to help the staff of institutional libraries develop or expand their collections of poetry materials, this bibliography offers lists of poetry works covering a broad range of poets, styles, and time periods. The first part of the bibliography provides a list of criteria used for selecting the titles cited, a list of sources used for…

The roots of conflict in the Middle East are deep and tangled. How can teachers of history, philosophy, or literature help their students reach even a simple understanding of the history and continued impact of these conflicts? In this curriculum project, a high school literature teacher has chosen five poets (two Egyptian, two Israeli, and one…

Shows how the giants of the Renaissance, from Dante to Shakespeare and Cervantes, can be taught so that they illustrate the dialectic of the cultural experience that produced them, and how the masterpieces of Italian literature can be used to suggest both national and universal qualities. (Editor/RK)

The Integrated Learning Semester program at the University of Delaware is described. Courses were designed around themes touching several academic areas and instructors cooperated in teaching courses. A course in literature and music of Romanticism is outlined and specific problems and procedures for implementing a program are noted. (CHK)

The borders that separate and connect different cultures often come into sharpest relief when the focus is on themes and motifs found in the literature or the visual arts of several lands. With the Internet, students can discover such points of intercultural contact for themselves, crossing borders that can lead them to a broader perspective on…

Stresses the importance of teaching the Greek classics so that they both "speak directly to the student" about matters of importance to modern life and provide an initiation into the ancient ways of life out of which they were written. (Editor)

An innovative and practical resource for teachers looking to move beyond English and American works, this book explores 175 highly teachable short stories from nearly 50 countries, highlighting the work of recognized authors from practically every continent, authors such as Chinua Achebe, Anita Desai, Nadine Gordimer, Milan Kundera, Isak Dinesen,…

Proposes that by reading fiction in translation, students can develop appreciation of the universality of humanity. (JL)

This collection of essays deals with world literature. The essays are focused on four primary goals: to map the conceptual and cultural problems inherent in common educational approaches to the subject which sometimes see world literature as a metanarrative of Western culture; to suggest new genres and perspectives; to consider specific curricular…

This curriculum guide is designed to assist teachers in developing a world literature course exploring the modern literature of four cultures: North America, Latin America, the Middle East, and India. The course begins with the study of North America, the language, history, culture and religion and the literature resulting from those factors. By…

This project developed two units for secondary students, one dealing with the modern poetry of Bulgaria and one with the legend of Dracula. The first unit includes poems, discussion questions, and a background essay. The second unit includes discussion materials largely based on Brian Stoker's novel "Dracula," and an historical essay on…

Telling stories from secondary and college English classrooms, this book explores the new possibilities for teaching and learning generated by bringing together reader-response and cultural-studies approaches. The book connects William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and other canonical figures to multicultural writers, popular culture,…