The Norton Introduction to Literature (Shorter Tenth Edition)

The Norton Introduction to Literature (Shorter Tenth Edition) - ISBN 9780393935141 by Alison Booth and Kelly J. Mays is market-leading reference that boasts a diverse selection of fiction, poetry, and drama. It carefully balances classics and contemporary literature, offering an excellent selection of well-curated readings. The authors efficiently and clearly explain elements like plot, narration and point of view, character, setting, symbol, and theme. They also explore contexts, discussing works of William Faulkner, Kate Chopin, and Flannery O'Connor along the way. This reference teaches students how to respond to poetry, presenting several examples (from Linda Pastan's Love Poem, to Ben Jonson's On My First Son, and Seamus Heaney's Mid-Term Break). Booth and Mays also discuss drama, using the work of William Shakespeare is as well as Sophocles's Antigone. Other examples in the book include Anton Chekhov's the Cherry Orchard, Sophocles's Oedipus King, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, and Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun. Students will learn paraphrasing, summary, and description, the elements of an essay, and the writing process. The Norton Introduction to Literature (Shorter Tenth Edition) also reaches students how to write citations and provide a sample research paper. Authors Booth and Mays are assistant professors in the University of Virginia and the University of Nevada, respectively. In this well-received textbook, they combine information and practical illustrations in order to hone the learner's writing and reading proficiency as well as critical thinking skills. It is widely available online and in bookstores, as well as book rental sites.