In All Quiet on the Western Front, the main characters are convinced to enlist by a. their parents b. the newspapers c. their teacher
The book was controversial for its a. nationalism b. patriotism c. pacifism
In 1931, a. the book was first published in a German magazine b. the book was made into a movie c. the book was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize
Discussion/essay questions
Books are often banned if they contain controversial ideas. Have any books ever been banned in your country? What was the reason?
Transcript
All Quiet on the Western Front is a 1929 novel by German author Erich Maria Remarque. It tells the story of 20-year-old Paul Baumer, a soldier in the German army during World War I. In the novel, Paul and his friends are convinced to enlist by their teacher‘s nationalist speeches. However, when they enter the trenches, they realize that the reality of war is nothing like the propaganda. The characters in the novel are fictional, but the story borrows from Remarque’s real experiences as a soldier. The book sold well when it was first released, but it was controversial. Politicians in Germany and around the world disliked its pacifist themes. When the Nazis gained power, they attacked and burnedAll Quiet on the Western Front for being “anti-German.” The book was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. It is still viewed as one of the most important war novels in history.
The flashbacks in The Remains of the Day show Stevens a. working as a butler for Lord Darlington b. driving across the country on vacation c. confessing his feelings to Miss Kenton
The best word to describe Stevens’s attitude about his job is a. negligent b. dedicated c. unmotivated
The award that The Remains of the Day won is a. the Booker Prize b. the Pulitzer Prize c. the Nobel Prize
Discussion/essay questions
Regret is one of the most important themes of The Remains of the Day. Stevens misses a lot of important moments in his life because of his dedication to his job. Have you ever missed a good opportunity? Why? What would you do differently if you had another chance?
Transcript
The Remains of the Day is a 1988 novel by Japanese-British author Kazuo Ishiguro. Its main character is an English butler named Stevens. Stevens narrates the story as he drives through the countryside to visit his former colleague, Miss Kenton. The novel is told in flashbacks of Stevens’s career as a butler in the 1920s and 1930s. Stevens reflects on his dedication to his job and his late employer, Lord Darlington, despite Darlington’s early Nazi sympathies. Stevens’s narration is very restrained and emotionless, but it is clear that he has many regrets. One of them is that he never told Miss Kenton about his feelings for her. The Remains of the Day won the 1989 Booker Prize, and it was made into a film in 1993.
The complete poem was first written in a. Akkadian b. Sumerian c. Greek
The poem was written by a. Homer b. Gilgamesh himself c. an unknown author, possibly multiple
In the story, Gilgamesh is primarily searching for a. true love b. wealth c. eternal life
Discussion/essay questions
The Epic of Gilgamesh deals with the theme of mortality. This has continued to be a common theme in literature throughout history. Why do you think death is such an important focus of stories?
Transcript
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient narrative poem. It is the oldest written narrative that has ever been found. Some of the individual stories that make up the poem were composed as early as 2100 B.C.E. The complete poem was later written on clay tablets in Akkadian, a language of ancient Mesopotamia. There is no known author. Many people likely contributed to the story over many years. The poem follows the long journey of a king who searches for the secret to eternal life. The Epic of Gilgamesh has influenced literary works in many different cultures. In fact, stories from The Epic of Gilgamesh can also be found in literature from later in history, such as Homer’s epics and the Bible.
The “Midnight’s Children” all have a. secret languages b. magical powers c. hidden identities
Saleem and Shiva are a. best friends b. siblings c. rivals
In 1981, Midnight’s Children a. became a movie b. was banned c. won the Booker Prize
Discussion/essay questions
Salman Rushdie’s work has often been controversial. Rushdie was sued by Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi for content in Midnight’s Children. His 1988 novel, The Satanic Verses, was so controversial that it caused serious threats against his life. What are the consequences of censoring writers? Do you think there is ever a good reason to ban a book? Why or why not?
Transcript
Midnight’s Children is a 1981 novel by Indian-British author Salman Rushdie. It tells the story of a boy named Saleem, who is one of 1,001 children born around midnight on the first day of India’s independence from Britain. Each of these children was born with a magical power. Saleem has the power of telepathy, as well as a very strong sense of smell. He was switched at birth with another boy named Shiva, who becomes his rival later in life. Midnight’s Children won the 1981 Booker Prize. It is famous for its unique use of language and its allegorical elements. Saleem’s character is often interpreted as an allegory for India itself.
In 1967, One Hundred Years of Solitude was published in a. Spanish b. Italian c. French
The story can be described as a. science fiction b. fantasy c. magical realism
In 1982, a. the book was first translated b. the book began to sell extremely well c. Márquez won the Nobel Prize in Literature
Discussion/essay questions
What can fiction teach us about history? Why might someone choose to tell a story about the past?
Transcript
One Hundred Years of Solitude is a 1967 novel by Colombian author Gabriel GarcĂa Márquez. It was originally published in Spanish, and first translated into English in 1970. It follows seven generations of a family called the BuendĂas, who live in an isolated town called Macondo. The novel has a non-linear structure, telling the strange, often mystical stories of the BuendĂas out of order. It is one of the most famous works of magical realism in literature. It has been interpreted as an allegory for the history of Colombia, documenting the effects of colonialism and civil wars over a century. One Hundred Years of Solitude has won many international prizes, including literary awards in Italy and France. Márquez himself won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982.
Historians believe Homer was from Ionia because a. the original texts were found there b. the dialect of the writing originated there c. the stories are set there
Homer’s birth year is hard to determine because a. most calendars from that time period were destroyed b. time was not commonly documented yet c. different sources from the time name different years
Homer is often depicted as a. a blind man b. a faceless figure c. a child
Discussion/essay questions
Do you think it is important to know the real author of a piece of literature? Why or why not?
Transcript
Homer was an ancient Greek poet known for his epics, the Odyssey and the Iliad. The stories are some of the earliest foundations of European literature. However, historians know very little about Homer himself. The dialect of the original texts makes it likely that he was born in Ionia, which is now in Turkey. His birth year is hard to determine because he lived before time was commonly documented. Historically, many artists and writers have depicted him as blind, but there is little evidence of this. There is even debate about whether Homer existed at all. Some people believe that the Odyssey and the Iliad were written by two different people using the same pseudonym. Some others believe that Homer simply compiled stories from oral traditions.
Shelley thought of the idea for Frankenstein while a. reading a horror novel b. learning about human anatomy c. telling ghost stories on a retreat
When Frankenstein was published, Shelley was a. 18 years old b. 20 years old c. 25 years old
The monster’s name is a. Frankenstein b. Victor c. never given in the text
Discussion/essay questions
It is easy for misconceptions to become widespread in society. Can you think of any other common misconceptions about popular books or movies?
Transcript
Frankenstein is a classic horror novel written by English author Mary Shelley. It was first published in 1818. It tells the story of a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who sews a body together and brings it to life. Frankenstein sees his creation as a monster, and it eventually turns against him. Shelley thought of the idea for the novel while telling ghost stories on a retreat with other writers. She started writing it when she was 18 years old, and published it when she was 20. Frankenstein is still relevant in popular culture, and many interpretations of Frankenstein’s monster have appeared in horror films and stories. However, it is a common misconception that Frankenstein is the monster’s name. In fact, the monster is never given a name.
The trees for the Future Library were planted in a. Scotland b. Norway c. Canada
Margaret Atwood was a. the first author to contribute b. the only author to contribute c. the most recent author to contribute
The purpose of the trees is to a. hide the location of the manuscripts b. decorate the outside of the library c. provide paper 100 years in the future
Discussion/essay questions
It is impossible to fully predict what will happen in 100 years. Do you think the project will achieve its goal? Why or why not?
Transcript
The Future Library is an ongoing creative project started by Scottish artist Katie Paterson. In 2014, Paterson began planting trees in Oslo, Norway. She planned to make this the site of a library for people 100 years in the future. Every year since, Paterson has asked a different acclaimed author to write a manuscript for the library. The manuscripts will be locked in glass boxes until 2114. The goal is to collect a century’s worth of stories and allow readers of the future to experience the changing times. Canadian author Margaret Atwood was the first person to provide a manuscript, and 6 other texts have since joined the Future Library. By the time that all 100 stories are complete, the trees in Oslo will have grown enough to become paper for an anthology.
The Bell Jar was first published under the name a. Sylvia Plath b. Victoria Lucas c. Esther Greenwood
The book is Plath’s a. only novel b. second novel c. third novel
The “bell jar” is a metaphor for a. sexism b. mental illness c. society
Discussion/essay questions
Why might life have been harder for people with mental illnesses in the 1960s?
How do you think the world can better accommodate people with mental illnesses?
Transcript
The Bell Jar is a 1963 novel by American writer Sylvia Plath. Plath originally published the novel in England using the pen name “Victoria Lucas”. The Bell Jar was Plath’s only novel, and her journals suggest that it is partially derived from her own life. The narrator, a young woman named Esther Greenwood, struggles with depression and anxiety, like Plath herself. The title is a metaphor that Esther uses to describe her mental illness—she explains that it feels like being trapped in a bell jar. Soon after the publication of The Bell Jar, Plath died by suicide. The book was not published under her real name until after her death. It is still studied today.
Why is it important to be aware of harmful messages in fiction?
What do you think makes fairy tales so influential?
Transcript
Grimm’s Fairy Tales is a collection of short stories by German brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. It was published in 1812, originally titled Children’s and Household Tales. Many well-known children’s stories are based on these German folk tales, such as Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel. However, the original stories are much darker than the interpretations we know today. Although they were written for children, many of the Grimms’ stories contain violent and disturbing scenes. Even at the time, some people thought the stories were inappropriate for children. They have also been criticized for their antisemitic messages. However, the Grimms’ collection is still relevant because of its influence on the stories of today.
Toni Morrison’s books are often banned even today. Why do you think people ban books?
Why is it so important to talk about censorship?
Transcript
Toni Morrison was an American author. She was born in 1931 in Lorain, Ohio, originally named Chloe Anthony Wofford. Morrison spent a lot of time around books throughout her life. She studied literature in university and later worked as a fiction editor at a publishing company. In 1970, Morrison published her first novel, The Bluest Eye. One of her later novels, Beloved, won multiple literary awards. Her stories often explored the traumatic experiences of Black Americans in an uncensored way. This made her writing very controversial. However, in 1993, Morrison won the Nobel Prize in Literature. She also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. Morrison died in 2019, at age 88.
Do you know any other books that have been banned in schools or libraries? What were the reasons?
Transcript
Charlotte’s Web is a classic children’s novel written by American author E. B. White. The story begins when a girl named Fern decides to raise a young pig named Wilbur. When Wilbur grows up, Fern’s family sends him away to live on a farm. Once he arrives, Wilbur learns that he will be slaughtered one day. He befriends a spider named Charlotte who agrees to help him stay alive. She begins to weave messages into her spider webs to convince the farmers that Wilbur is special. But even though Charlotte succeeds at delaying Wilbur’s death, she can’t avoid her own. Critics have praised the story for explaining the theme of death in a way that children can understand. However, some people dislike the idea of death being a central theme in a children’s novel. The book has even been banned before for this reason.
Although Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813, the story contains themes that are still important today. Some people see the novel as one of the earliest examples of feminism in literature. What makes Elizabeth Bennet an empowering character for women?
Why do you think Jane Austen decided to publish this novel anonymously?
Transcript
Pride and Prejudice is a romantic novel written by English author Jane Austen. The novel was originally published anonymously in 1813. At the time, women were often expected to marry into wealthy families. The story’s protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, is a young woman who feels pressured by her family to marry for money. When her sisters and friends are all starting to find husbands, Elizabeth meets a wealthy man named Mr. Darcy. Darcy is interested in Elizabeth, and asks her to marry him. At first, Elizabeth has no interest in his proposal. She believes Darcy is arrogant and selfish, and she refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love. Throughout the book, however, Darcy grows into a person that Elizabeth can respect, and Elizabeth realizes that she judged him too harshly when they first met. The story ends with the two of them happily married.
Do you know of any modern books, movies, or plays that are based on Shakespeare’s plays?
Why do you think that so much modern entertainment is inspired by these plays?
Transcript
William Shakespeare was an English dramatist and poet, currently considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. He was born in 1564 in Stratford, where he would spend the rest of his childhood. At age 18, he married a woman named Anne Hathaway, and the couple had three children together. After the birth of his youngest two children, Shakespeare travelled to London and helped to found an acting company known as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. While working as an actor, Shakespeare began to write scripts. One of the first plays to be officially credited to Shakespeare was the iconic Romeo and Juliet, a story of two young lovers who come from rival families. During his life, Shakespeare wrote at least 38 plays: 14 comedies, 12 tragedies, and 12 histories. Shakespeare died in 1616 – over 400 years ago – but his plays are still relevant today because of their influence on modern stories. In fact, many of today’s books, movies, and plays are based on concepts from Shakespeare’s work.
Anne Shirley has been called “the dearest, most moving and delightful child since the immortal Alice” by author Mark Twain. If you’ve read “Anne of Green Gables”, what do you think makes Anne so lovable?
Transcript
Anne of Green Gables is a classic novel written by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. The novel was published in 1908, and is classified as children’s literature, though it is enjoyed by people of all ages. The story is set on a farm in the fictional town of Avonlea, where siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert live. The siblings are hoping to adopt a young boy to help them out on the farm. Instead, they are given an imaginative orphan girl named Anne Shirley, who has never had a real home. After learning how Anne grew up, Matthew and Marilla feel sorry for her and decide to keep her. The story continues to follow Anne as she gets older and forms friendships with other children in Avonlea. The book has sold over 50 million copies and has been translated into 36 languages. After writing Anne of Green Gables, Montgomery published seven additional books about Anne’s life. These novels have inspired several film and television adaptations, and Anne’s story is still loved by children and adults alike.
