Beauty

In her novel The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison writes, "Beauty was not simply something to behold; it was something one could do.” In this thematic collection, we have gathered texts that explore the promises and problems of beauty.

Publication year 1952

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Relationships


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure, Grief / Death


Publication year 1933

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Globalization, Life/Time: The Future, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Philosophy, Arts / Culture, Japanese Literature, Asian Literature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

The essay “In Praise of Shadows” was originally published in 1933 in Japan and was written by the Japanese author Jun’ichirō Tanizaki (1886-1965). His work spanned a wide array of subjects, including the cultural impact of World War II, sexuality, and family relationships. He was especially interested in exploring the cultural differences between Japan and the West. Tanizaki was awarded Japan’s Imperial Prize in Literature in 1949 and wrote novels, short stories, essays, plays, and... Read In Praise of Shadows Summary


Publication year 1855

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags Free verse, Race / Racism, Love / Sexuality, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2012

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags African American Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance


Publication year 1807

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period


Publication year 1922

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Economics, Society: Class

Tags Harlem Renaissance


Publication year 1919

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Place, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags Modernism, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

“Kew Gardens” is a short story by British author Virginia Woolf, published privately in 1919 before appearing in Monday or Tuesday, Woolf’s 1921 collection of short stories. The story explores themes such as Moments of Being, The Connection Between Humanity and Nature, and Interpersonal Conflict.Other works by this author include The Duchess and the Jeweller, A Haunted House, Between The Acts, and Orlando.This guide refers to the version of “Kew Gardens” available in Project Gutenberg’s... Read Kew Gardens Summary


Publication year 1816

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Lyric Poem, Education, Education, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1819

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Love / Sexuality, Education, Education, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Gothic Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Romance, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1916

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Language, Life/Time: The Future, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Science / Nature, Modernism


Publication year 1929

Genre Collection of Letters, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Identity: Language

Tags Inspirational, Arts / Culture, Education, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

Letters to a Young Poet is a collection of 10 letters written by the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke to Franz Xaver Kappus, from February 1903 to December 1908. In an introduction to the book, Kappus describes how he came to begin his correspondence with Rilke. At the time, Kappus was a 19-year-old student at an Austrian military school. Though Kappus was set to become a military officer, he held aspirations of instead becoming a... Read Letters to a Young Poet Summary


Publication year 1798

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Objects

Tags Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Education, Education, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, History: World, Philosophy

Composed in the middle of July 1798, “Tintern Abbey” was the last poem submitted for the publication of Lyrical Ballads, which was already in the press at Bristol. As the coda to Lyrical Ballads, “Tintern Abbey” represents a pivotal modulation in Wordsworth’s poetic development and ambition, prefiguring much of his distinctive verse to follow. Its sustained meditative subjectivity, masterful control of tone, elevated theme, scale of conceptual development, and orchestrated musicality mark the convergence of... Read Tintern Abbey Summary


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Realistic Fiction, African American Literature, Children's Literature, Arts / Culture

Locomotion, Jacqueline Woodson’s 2003 novel in verse, follows the perspective of Lonnie Collins Motion, nicknamed Locomotion. After his parents die in a fire and his sister is adopted, Lonnie grieves and navigates life, first in a group home and then with Miss Edna, his foster mother. Through poetry, he slowly finds joy in life again, highlighting the themes of The Search for Identity and Belonging, The Healing Power of Writing, and The Enduring Support of... Read Locomotion Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: The Future, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, British Literature, History: World, Regency Era

Longbourn (2013) is a work of fiction by British author Jo Baker, who is the author of several other novels of historical fiction and literary suspense. Longbourn depicts what life is like for the servants of the Bennet family of Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice. While events in Austen’s book frame this novel, Longbourn follows the inner lives of housemaid Sarah, housekeeper Mrs. Hill, and James Smith, the mysterious footman who shows up... Read Longbourn Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Music, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Music


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Identity: Mental Health, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Music

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Mythology, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Grief / Death, History: World, Love / Sexuality, Military / War, Music, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, WWI / World War I, WWII / World War II, Fantasy


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Art, Self Discovery, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags History: World, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Immigration / Refugee, Disability, Arts / Culture, American Literature, Children's Literature, Jewish Literature, Realistic Fiction, History: World

Lucky Broken Girl is a middle-grade historical novel by Ruth Behar. Main character Ruthie Mizrahi, an immigrant from Cuba, lives with her parents and brother in 1966 Queens. Together they try to quell their homesickness for Cuba while seeking new opportunities in America. When a car accident injures Ruthie, she becomes bedridden in a full body cast for over a year; during that time, challenges and fears she never anticipated give her a new perspective... Read Lucky Broken Girl Summary