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Don Quixote is one of the most famous of all novels, and with good reason. On one level, it is simply a really funny story. But, there is a great deal more to it, and I hope that some of your students, at least, are able to pick up on that!

Frankenstein or; the Modern Prometheus is filled with adventure, mystery, intrigue, and horror. Mary Shelley’s characters and their exploration of universal themes of alienation and death make this a classic of both the science fiction and horror genres. The development of the theme, foreshadowing, and suspense all strengthen the force of the narrative.

The Iliad and the Odyssey looks at ancient Greece through Homer’s epic poems, where heroes face frightening challenges with bravery and ingenuity. Students focus on character perspective and motivations, linear and non-linear sequences of events, and explore how myths are shaped by—and communicate the values of—a particular culture at a particular time.

The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedy about social class, gender roles, love and marriage, and identity. The play is a masterpiece of wit and wordplay that examines how the rules of society create—and constrain—one’s sense of self. Students explore and analyze The Importance of Being Earnest as an example of dramatic writing, examining the text’s use of characterization, themes, and wit.

The adventures of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are myths that were first told at the firesides of the Celts. Myths are traditional stories that people have passed on since the time when they did not have writing. Myths are used to teach lessons, explain mysteries, and entertain as well.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s comedies. William Shakespeare uses language and the action of the characters to create a light-hearted story which has a happy ending. The following links might be helpful as teacher and student resources.

Frederick Douglass was born a slave in Maryland in 1817. In the South before the Civil War, it was against the law for a slave to learn to read and write. But a few, like Douglass, managed to learn. When Douglass was twenty-one, he escaped from slavery and made his way to Massachusetts, where he joined the abolitionist movement and began making powerful speeches against slavery.

Sherlock Holmes is the most famous detective in fiction. Whether in books, television shows, or movies, Holmes—with his partner, Dr. Watson—brilliantly solves even the most puzzling crimes. With his keen powers of observation, his razor-sharp reasoning, and his vast knowledge, Holmes ensures that justice is done.

Based on the real-life experiences of the author, Maria Ruiz de Burton, The Squatter and the Don chronicles the struggle of a Mexican rancher and the Americans who are legally taking his land under the tenants of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. In the lessons presented in the Teacher Guide, students will write an informative essay, work on grammar skills involving verb moods, and study the morphology of words using Greek and Latin roots.

A mix of horror tale, science fiction, and detective story, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde keeps readers returning to it generation after generation. The Teacher Guide examines how an author develops a major theme and looks at point of view, elements of character, setting, and plot, as well as figurative and descriptive language.

The Tempest mixes raucous comedy with moving drama in Shakespeare’s tale of magic, vengeance, love, and forgiveness. In the accompanying Teacher Guide, students will practice verb tenses, subject-verb agreement and writing paragraphs. To strengthen their vocabulary, they will also learn Greek and Roman roots and affixes in the English language.

The British writer H. G. Wells is sometimes called “the father of science fiction.” In his first novel, The Time Machine, Wells leaps past the year 800,000 to encounter a green and peaceful world where all the needs of the people seem to be mysteriously taken care of—but the mystery reveals a dark vision of the possible destiny of humankind. Students examine character and theme development, and analyze how figurative and descriptive language impact a story.

Shakespeare transforms the history of the brilliant and ambitious Roman leader Julius Caesar into a powerful drama—focusing on themes of friendship, betrayal, and leadership. The Teacher Guide focuses on how themes are introduced and developed through a dramatic work. As students read the play and participate in writing activities, they can reflect on how informed and active citizens should judge leaders and their actions.

When young Jim Hawkins finds a treasure map, he stumbles into a thrilling adventure with cutthroat buccaneers. The pirate Long John Silver—devious, greedy and charming—at first befriends Jim but then takes him hostage. Treasure Island remains both a captivating coming-of-age story and the pattern for popular pirate adventures.