Synopses & Reviews
While American and European writers are still central to the high school curriculum, more and more students and teachers are discovering the great literary works outside the Western tradition. These works grew out of a different set of cultural contexts; thus they are often difficult for students to understand. At the same time, a careful consideration of these masterpieces helps students understand other cultures and provides a greater understanding of the traditions that have shaped multicultural American society. This book introduces high school students to 10 masterpieces of non-Western literature.
Review
"The book's range is enormous, covering works from Asia, Africa and the Americas. Cooksey does a remarkable job. As a way into the thought-worlds and literature of a wide range of cultures, I can recommend it. range of cultures, I can recommend it." - Consciousness, Literature and the Arts
Review
"[A] starting point for the serious student who wants more than to just skim the surface of great literary works. Reading the ten chapters in this volume will stimulate the student to learn more about the historical and cultural contexts for individual works and approaches to analyzing them." - MultiCultural Review
Review
"In this collection appropriate for high school students and above, the themes, plot and character development, context, and source of ten literary works from outside the Western tradition are discussed, accompanied by excerpts of each work." - SciTech Book News
Synopsis
While American and European writers are still central to the high school curriculum, more and more students and teachers are discovering the great literary works outside the Western tradition. This book provides critical essays on 10 masterpieces of non-Western literature, including Gilgamesh, The Tale of Genji, and Quetzalcoatl. Each essay explains the work's historical and cultural contexts, plot, major characters, central themes, and lasting influence. Chapters cite works for further reading, and the book closes with a bibliography.
Synopsis
Provides critical overviews of 10 major works of non-Western literature.
Synopsis
Included are chapters on such works as Gilgamesh, Sundiata, The Tale of Genji, The Conference of BirdS≪/i>, and Quetzalcoatl. Each chapter discusses the work's historical and cultural background, plot, characters, major themes, and lasting influence. Chapters cite works for further reading, and the book closes with a bibliography.
About the Author
THOMAS L. COOKSEY is Professor of English and Philosophy at Armstrong Atlantic State University. His previous books include Masterpieces of Philosophical Literature (Greenwood, 2006).