If you are teaching English to your students, chances are you are looking for great books to use as reading material. While it can be difficult to decide which books are suitable, it is often better to use a range of different ones so that you are sure to find one that you can recommend to your class. Here is a list of some of the most popular English-language books you can use.
To the Lighthouse
To the Lighthouse is one of Virginia Woolf’s most important works. It is a meditation on grief and parenthood. The novel is composed of three main parts. Each section is devoted to a different theme.
A major theme of the novel is the nature of human consciousness. In particular, it focuses on the concept of time. This is evident in the way the family experiences time on the Isle of Skye, the largest island in the Inner Hebrides group.
However, the novel is also notable for its lyrical style. One of the most successful experiments in stream of consciousness, the narrative is almost devoid of dialogue.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a children’s book written by Lewis Carroll, and it is one of the most popular and famous novels in English. The story tells the adventures of a young girl who falls down a rabbit hole and becomes lost in a strange land filled with talking animals and magical cakes.
When Alice enters the fantasy world she meets the Mad Hatter and a bunch of other weird creatures. They treat her as though she’s incompetent.
Alice is a seven-year-old who finds herself in an unfamiliar, nonsensical world. She’s not sure what to do.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray is a masterpiece of gothic fiction. It is a satire of Victorian society and the aesthetic movement. Students can use the book to discuss the values of the Victorian era. They can also examine how beauty and morality interact.
The novel starts with a portrait of Dorian Gray. Basil Hallward is the painter. He is captivated by Dorian’s youthful beauty. But he is worried about Dorian’s behavior. He believes Dorian is too young and will become a degenerate.
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar is a great play to study in high school English classes. Although the plot is simple, the themes are complex. A study of the characters will teach students to evaluate how characters behave. It will also introduce them to the history of the play, as well as the language used.
Students will also compare Shakespeare’s language to other plays, and identify similar elements in primary sources. They will analyze the ambiguity of the meter and identify similarities in the lines.
Unlike most historical texts, Julius Caesar encourages an approach to the text that is a little different. Teachers can use the play to engage students in collaborative literature workshop activities.
The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath is a novel written by John Steinbeck that deals with the effects of the Great Depression on a family of migrant farm workers. This novel also explores the effects of changes to the agricultural industry.
In the novel, the Joad family travels from Oklahoma to California in search of work. Their journey is filled with danger and hardship. They face terrible working conditions and awful living conditions.
As a result, The Grapes of Wrath is considered a classic. It is often read in American literature classes. Also, it was adapted into a movie in 1940.
Animal Farm
If you are looking for a great book for English class, then you may be surprised to find that the best choice is not the usual textbook. There are a number of reasons why Animal Farm has stood the test of time.
One of the main reasons is its focus on power and corruption. It also makes the point that, although you can be equal to an animal, equality does not apply to all.
Another reason is the fact that Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution of 1917. During the era, the Communist Party was repressive and brutal. The story explores how a cult of personality and a desire for power corrupts democracy.
Little Women
“Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott is a semi-autobiographical novel about four girls growing up in 1866 New England. It is considered a classic, a seminal work, and a feminist favorite.
“Little Women” follows four March sisters and their mother as they grow up and become adults. Their father is away fighting the Civil War. They come from a poor family, but their love for each other always helps them.
The four March sisters live in a small New England town during the Civil War. Their father is in the army, but they have little money. However, they are happy and they have each other. Each sister has a different personality. One is a bookish girl, another is quiet and sweet, one is maternal, and the last one is recessive.