Thread Drift

[smilingcat]

I taught that story in 7th grade English for years. But, as we moved from using anthologies to real literature, it went by the wayside.

I bristle at the thought of "using anthologies to real literature" Surely, Edgard Allen Poe will disagree. Perhaps it was the kerosene lamp in his living quarters that gave rise to many of his nightmarish stories.

So would real literature be something from Jane Austin? And would Canterbury tale be considered novellas since it is a collection of stories of characters from different background? Sometimes, serious literature leaves me dry: Die Brechtrommel and Der Butt. Never could get into Gunter Grass. didn't care for Oskar nor the fish nor the story of Awa. German literature is rife with anti-heros. It's a common theme. Same goes for Dickenson. Oh the dread of Nicholas Nickleby.

But I do like some light reading like Mist of Avalon. It was a tale from woman's perspective on King Arthur to something more classical like The Tempest from Shakespear.

So why is Romeo and Juliet so much a standard and same with The Taming of Shrew while Midsummer Night's Dream and (more so with) The Tempest are left in the dust?