Book reviews are a great way to connect with fellow bibliophiles. A well-written review can help you discover new books, find bookish communities, and spark cultural conversations. When writing a book review, you want to share what you felt about a particular work—why you liked or disliked it—without spoiling it for future readers. Ultimately, the…
Admit it: reading Shakespeare is not your cup of tea. At first, trying to read Shakespeare's works may seem like learning a foreign language. Performed for audiences over four centuries ago, Shakespeare's plays were written in Early Modern English, so it’s natural to feel confused by word choices and sentence structures that have evolved since…
At first, learning how to write a character analysis may seem like an overwhelming task, especially when characters are evolving throughout the text. Not every aspect of a character will be directly stated by the author. Therefore, it’s up to you to find textual evidence that supports your interpretation of the character’s disposition. The goal…
At first, analyzing a poem may seem like an intimidating task, especially considering the myriad poetic forms out there. It’s important to note, however, that a poem can have different meanings for different readers. Many poems are intentionally left open-ended and refuse to resolve their internal tensions. As poet Billy Collins says, you should not…
There comes a point in a student’s academic career where she'll have to write a summary. Knowing how to write a summary is one of the most beneficial skills that demonstrates reading comprehension and writing ability. Writing a good summary indicates that you clearly understand a text and that you can effectively communicate that understanding…
