CliffsNotes on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet


Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. In CliffsNotes on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, you explore Shakespeare's greatest tragedy—the heartbreaking love story of Romeo and Juliet amid the conflict between their two feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets. This study guide carefully walks you through every twist and turn of Shakespeare's classic by providing chapter summaries and critical analyses of each act and scene of the play. You'll also explore the life and background of the "Bard" himself—William Shakespeare. Other features that help you study include Character analyses of major players A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters Critical essays The history of the play's development, as well as its first performance A review section that tests your knowledge A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.







Romeo and Juliet


Book Description

The tragedy of Romeo and juliet - the greatest love story ever.




CliffsNotes on Austen's Pride and Prejudice


Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in the series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. In CliffsNotes on Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's most popular and well-known work, you'll meet Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters as they navigate the social milieu of provincial 18th-century England. In addition to easy travels through all of the novel's ironic plot twists, you'll get detailed plot summaries and chapter-by-chapter commentaries to show you how Austen's belief in rationalism triumphs in the union of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. You'll also discover Life and background of the author, Jane Austen A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters Critical essays about women's roles in 19th-century Britain and money A review section that tests your knowledge A Resource Center with books, websites, and films for further study Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.




The Wednesday Wars


Book Description

In this Newbery Honor-winning novel, Gary D. Schmidt tells the witty and compelling story of a teenage boy who feels that fate has it in for him, during the school year 1968-68. Seventh grader Holling Hoodhood isn't happy. He is sure his new teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates his guts. Holling's domineering father is obsessed with his business image and disregards his family. Throughout the school year, Holling strives to get a handle on the Shakespeare plays Mrs. Baker assigns him to read on his own time, and to figure out the enigmatic Mrs. Baker. As the Vietnam War turns lives upside down, Holling comes to admire and respect both Shakespeare and Mrs. Baker, who have more to offer him than he imagined. And when his family is on the verge of coming apart, he also discovers his loyalty to his sister, and his ability to stand up to his father when it matters most.




CliffsNotes on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream


Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into critical elements and ideas within classic works of literature. In CliffsNotes on A Midsummer Night's Dream, you dig into Shakespeare's entertaining story of young lovers as they're toyed with by mischievous forest sprites. Shakespeare claimed to have written this romantic comedy to show that "love hath no law but its own." This study guide follows the action from scene to scene with commentaries that bring sense to the entertaining play, which is neither realistic nor tragic. Other features that help you figure out this important work include Life and background of the author Introduction to and synopsis of the play Analyses of all the characters and a character map Summaries of each of the five acts A review section that tests your knowledge and suggests essay topics Classic literature or modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.




CliffsNotes on Shakeapeare's Twelfth Night


Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. In CliffsNotes on Twelfth Night, you follow several separate groups of characters whose stories are flawlessly woven together to produce one of Shakespeare's lightest, most popular, and most musical comedies — full of intricate plots and subplots and witty banter that only Shakespeare could write. Summaries and commentaries take you through Shakespeare's masterpiece, and character analyses of such memorable characters as Viola, Olivia, and Duke Orsino clue you in on their motivations. You also get these additional features: A section on the life and background of William Shakespeare A review section that tests your knowledge A selected bibliography Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.




CliffsComplete Othello


Book Description

In the CliffsComplete guides, the novel's complete text and a glossary appear side-by-side with coordinating numbered lines to help you understand unusual words and phrasing. You'll also find all the commentary and resources of a standard CliffsNotes for Literature. CliffsComplete Othello makes you familiar with one of the most staged of all of Shakespeare's plays. Othello is a tale of love and betrayal, secrets, passion, and intrigue. Psychology and wit pit strength and virtue against jealousy and evil agendas. The results leave no winners, only tragedy in the lives of the jealous Moor, Othello, and his wife, Desdemona. Enhance your reading of Othello and save valuable studying time — all at once — with CliffsComplete Othello. Additional features include: A summary and insightful commentary for each scene Bibliography and historical background on the playwright, William Shakespeare A look at the historical context and structure of the play Discussions on the play's symbols and themes A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters Review questions, a quiz, discussion topics (essay questions), activity ideas A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites Streamline your literature study with all-in-one help from CliffsComplete guides!




As You Like it


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CliffsNotes on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar


Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer summaries and expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. In CliffsNotes on Julius Caesar, you follow the dramatic political battles of Rome during the height of the Pax Romanum. Shakespeare pits Caesar against an untold number of conspirators and lets the daggers fly. In the end, who will carry on the rule of the Caesars? This user-friendly guide makes studying a snap—with visual icons flagging key themes, literary devices, and more. You'll come to understand the overall structure of the play, actions and motivations of the characters, and the social and cultural perspectives of the author. Features that help you study include Shakespeare's background and career highlights Scene-by-scene summaries Character analyses of major players A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters Critical essays A review section that tests your knowledge Glossaries of key words and terms Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.