O Tempora O Mores: Cicero's Catilinarian Orations, A Student Edition with Historical Essays Review

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O Tempora O Mores: Cicero's Catilinarian Orations, A Student Edition with Historical Essays ReviewThis is a welcome tool for the teacher and student of Latin. I recently studied Cicero's Pro Archia and In Catalinam I for a class, and I wanted to read the other three over break. Shapiro's volume has been paydirt. Her historical essays are excellent - they would be quite appropriate to use in any classics or history course, besides being great background to the text itself.
The Latin is presented by itself, with no grammar or vocabulary on the same page. The commentary comes at the end and there is a full glossary in the back. The commentary is primarily focused on syntax (how do chunks of words fit together) and also gives historical and cultural information where relevant (very helpful). The commentary glosses a few words occasionally, but far less than some will be accustomed to.
I wasn't sure I liked not having on-page commentary and/or vocabulary at first (why not have at least difficult vocabulary glossed on the page to eliminate always flipping to the back?), but I have ended up liking it. Why? Because it absolutely forces the reader to stick in the Latin text. Over the long run, I found myself pausing longer to ponder Cicero's sometimes wandering (aka periodic) sentences before flipping to the back for assistance, or thinking twice about vocabulary I was uncertain of and trying to guess based on the etymology or context. This guesswork, combined with the ability to look it up either in the commentary or full vocabulary, ultimately makes one a better reader of Latin.
I can heartily recommend this volume to anyone desiring an intermediate level text. It would be quite effective in either a classroom setting or independently.O Tempora O Mores: Cicero's Catilinarian Orations, A Student Edition with Historical Essays Overview
In 63 b.c., Lucius Sergius Catilina, a Roman aristocrat, formed a conspiracy to overthrow the Roman Republic. Cicero, who was consul that year, exposed the plot and documented his defeat of the conspiracy in his Orations against Catiline. The First Catilinarian Oration is well known and deservedly famous. Scholars are familiar with the other three speeches, but few students know them. This lapse is regrettable. The Third Oration is a fast-paced courtroom drama, and the Second and Fourth Orations provide critical information about this key event in Roman history. Susan O. Shapiro here makes all Cicero's Catilinarian Orations accessible to the intermediate Latin student.

O Tempora! O Mores! is designed to fit a variety of pedagogical approaches. Professors can assign any of the Catilinarian Orations independently or assign excerpts from several of the speeches. Shapiro's historical essays bring a new dimension to Latin study, explaining the history and politics behind the texts. The essays are divided into short sections that can be assigned individually for class discussion. The volume is further amplified by a vocabulary, maps, a bibliography, and appendices.




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Understanding Pride and Prejudice: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents (The Greenwood Press "Literature in Context" Series) Review

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Understanding Pride and Prejudice: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents (The Greenwood Press "Literature in Context" Series) ReviewI did not use this book in the manner intended, i.e., as a textbook for literary studies, but I found it very valuable for my own personal instruction. Unlike Cliff Notes and some other literary studies, it focuses on understanding the context of the novel, not in-depth exploration of its themes, writing style, etc. I learned things that I had not known from the previous twenty or so books that I had read on the era and on Jane Austen. Given the debates over JA's "failure" to discuss contemporary politics, it was quite interesting to read that literature was heavily censored at athe time, and she would not have been able to comment freely, even if she had wanted to. The book's intended audience of young adults has resulted in its being clearly, but not simplistically written.
The book should be very helpful for anyone intending to do serious research on the issues that are covered (see table of contents). There is an at least one-page bibliography on every topic covered, which should provide a jump-start into the literature.
Teachman begins with a brief but excellent literary analysis of Pride & Prejudice. I particularly enjoyed her comments on Mr. Bennet. Although JA delineated his failings as a parent, I think that readers (and perhaps his creator) tend to be so taken with his wit and charm as to gloss over them. If Mrs. Bennet wasn't naturally fretful, living with such an unsupportive, indeed quietly hostile spouse, facing widowhood on her dowry with no provision for her five daughters would fray stronger nerves than hers.
The main body of the book is composed of excerpts from various writings contemporary with Jane Austen. Teachman first gives a general overview of the subject of the chapter, then an introduction to each author, followed by the excerpts of their writing. There is a brief summation at the end of the chapter. These are fascinating as first hand experiences of both thought and writing style. There are a few that I would like to read in full. The chapter includes a list of suggested questions and projects. I hated these things as a student, and as an adult, I enjoyed skipping them.
The last chapter "Pride & Prejudice: Issues in the 1980s & 1990s" considers our continued fascination with Jane Austen's work and the issues that are still current today. I was very impressed with this chapter. Teachman was able to calmly and nonjudgementally discuss marriage, romance, sex and celibacy, subjects that are so emotional fraught that most people cannot mention them without ranting.
The book includes both a detailed table of contents and index for ease of access. There are three illustrations: one from an illustrated edition of P&P, one of a portrait of Jane Austen based on CAssandra's drawing, and a picture of Chawton Cottage.
I will certainly look for Teachman's general companion to Jane Austen and keep this series in mind for other favorite works.
Understanding Pride and Prejudice: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents (The Greenwood Press "Literature in Context" Series) Overview

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Understanding The Scarlet Letter: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents (The Greenwood Press "Literature in Context" Series) Review

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Understanding The Scarlet Letter: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents (The Greenwood Press "Literature in Context" Series) ReviewThis book is one of the most fascinating books for studying the Scarlet Letter. I had to write my college research paper on the Scarlet Letter and I went to several libraries collecting books for this paper. All of these books had journal articles that pertained to my subject, but I soon realized that ALL I NEEDED WAS THIS ONE BOOK TO COMPLETE MY PAPER. This book not only discusses the themes in the book but it gives complete background knowledge on the puritans, analysis of characters, plot information, and articles that relate puritanist views to modern day events. I love this book and highly recommend it for people studying the Scarlet Letter.Understanding The Scarlet Letter: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents (The Greenwood Press "Literature in Context" Series) OverviewSexual misconduct of society's leaders, the plight of single mothers, the separation of church and state -- all are burning issues of the 1990s which sparked outrage and controversy 150 years earlier in The Scarlet Letter. Now, no study of American history is complete without thorough examination of Nathaniel Hawthorne's timeless masterpiece. This multidisciplinary study of the novel contains historical documents, collateral readings, and commentary. In short, it is the ideal companion for students who wish to fully understand the novel in the context of its time, and to unlock its current relevance. Among the materials are original 17th-century documents that illuminate Puritan attitudes and bring the Salem witchcraft trials to life, private journals, historical reports, 19th-century magazine articles, sketches, and newspaper stories. Many of the documents are available in no other printed form. Not only do these materials provide a taste of 17th-century Puritan culture, but they also glimpse into Hawthorne's mind as he comes to terms with his witch-hunting ancestors and his vocation. Most importantly, this casebook contemplates the many issues raised by The Scarlet Letter which inextricably link the 17th-century Puritans to the 19th century culture of Hawthorne to the present. Each section of this casebook contains study questions, topic ideas for written or oral expression, and lists of further readings for examining the issues raised by the novel. Designed as a resource for students, teachers, and library media specialists, the volume is cloth bound and printed on high quality acid-free paper, making it an excellent addition to every library collection. A literary analysis focusing on the issues raised by the novel opens the casebook. In Part Two, the Puritan's code of crime and punishment and the basic tenets of their belief are analyzed through original 17th-century diaries, letters, and testimony from the Salem witch trials. Part Three examines the novel's introductory essay, the autobiographical "The Custom House," which finds Hawthorne grappling with the role his ancestors played in persecuting the Quakers and the Salem witches, as well as his own internal conflict over his vocation as a fiction writer. The moral attitudes at the time of Hawthorne's controversial work are also examined through reviews published at the time of publication. Part Four draws connections between two issues raised by the novel - the unwed mother and the lapsed minister - that remain controversial today and features recent news articles on these issues. A glossary of terms and a topic and person index complete this latest addition to Greenwood Press' "Literature in Context" series.

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Student Companion to Charles Dickens (Student Companions to Classic Writers) Review

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Student Companion to Charles Dickens (Student Companions to Classic Writers) ReviewIf you're assigned to read a Charles Dickens novel for class and you need a lot of help understanding it, this book will be perfect for you! It contains tons of information on most of his works, and it is written specifically for high school and undergraduate college audiences. What it offers better than the Cliffs Notes or Sparks Notes series is probably the way it relates Charles Dickens' works to the society of his times.
Chapter one of this book is basically introduces you to Charles Dickens himself, the important events in his and his family's life, and how those events inspired Charles Dickens to write some of his books. The second chapter gives additional information about what was going on in the literary world, as well as the rest of the world, to help you understand his novels in the context of that era (Victorian England). The rest of the book addresses specific works: Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Hard Times, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations, as well as a handful of his early novels and Christmas-themed novels. Each section explains in depth key events, symbols, themes, and other elements of each story, their significance, and how it ties in with what was going on in the real world. The authors have also included commentary on how certain groups of people, e.g. feminists or Marxists, would react to the novels.
If you're looking for something that covers a chapter-by-chapter analysis of a specific book by Charles Dickens, this companion book unfortunately falls short of that, and you should consult the Cliffs Notes or Sparknotes series for that. Still, if you're reading anything by Charles Dickens and you can obtain this book somehow, it is well worth your time.Student Companion to Charles Dickens (Student Companions to Classic Writers) OverviewCharles Dickens was the most popular writer of his age and is still considered one of the world's greatest novelists. This well-written study surveys his unusual and prolific life, relating his fiction writings to his concerns and active involvement with social conditions of early Victorian England. Glancy skillfully takes the reader back in time to appreciate the historical settings that inspired works like Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities. An entire chapter is devoted to each of these works, as well as to David Copperfield, Hard Times, the Christmas books, and the early novels from The Pickwick Papers to Martin Chuzzlewit. In each chapter Glancy's analysis of plot, style, and character development bring these imaginative stories to life for the reader. This book examines Dickens's keen understanding of human nature and draws out the themes that make works such as A Christmas Carol as beloved today as when first written. This companion to Dickens will aid students in understanding the social context and literary genius of one of the greatest Victorian novelists. The thorough biographical chapter traces Dickens' life from his childhood through the development of his multi-faceted literary career. The literary heritage chapter examines the tremendous influence Dickens exerted on writing then and now. This volume surveys all of Dickens' work and provides in-depth readings of five of his novels and his Christmas works. The series format makes analysis of setting, plot, character development, and themes for each work accessible to students. The alternate critical perspectives enhance readers' understanding of Dickens' work. The selected bibliography and reviews cover both original and contemporary sources.

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